COVID-19 unleashes a scamdemic

In years gone by, the garden variety con artist would pounce on their victim in the streets, convince them of some ‘miracle’ or magical financial solution and make off with their hard earned cash. From those claiming to double your money, sell you precious stones or get you a job, the scam relied on physical interface between the con artist and his victim.

The rapid spread of the Internet and social media has considerably reduced the scammers’ legwork. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this, depressing incomes and thus creating fertile ground for those claiming to offer miracle relief for consumers. The pandemic’s lockdowns limited physical interface and as Batswana ‘went digital’ for their financial transactions and solutions, the scammers pursued, helped by the near lawlessness of the internet and the near helplessness of regulators.