SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR HOMEBUYERS WHEN PUTTING DOWN A DEPOSIT
• Be vigilant about opening any emails you receive and don ’ t open any suspicious links or attachments .
• Validate any banking details from the bank in question before making a deposit .
• Always confirm with your Agent before making any deposits . This confirmation should be in person or over the phone as using email could allow a criminal to continue the interception .
• Consider using an alternative to the traditional depositing of cash into a trust account , to secure your purchase . Buyers Trust comes with a Bank Guarantee and provides a safe platform for deposit transactions , that will protect you against the risk of phishing or other such cybercrimes .
• Make sure that you keep your devices up to date with antimalware software and that you choose strong passwords which are not easy for an attacker to guess .
• Only connect to private WiFi networks that you know and can trust .
Jackie Smith Head of Buyers Trust ( a subsidiary of Ooba Group )
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine NOV 2022 147