When he heard about the Experian data breach, Tebogo Sehuma* had a strange feeling he’d be targeted. He’d been a victim of identity theft before and, just as he feared, it had happened again.
Tebogo, who registered with TransUnion after being scammed five years ago, was later alerted about unusual activity linked to his name by the consumer credit reporting agency.
“They said there’s a personal loan application at a bank. I told them it’s not me, so the loan was declined,” he says.
But the criminals who’d used his personal information had already gotten away with fraudulent activity – when he later checked his credit report, Tebogo discovered he owed about R7 000 in-store credit. He’s still trying to clear his name.
“The worst part about your identity being stolen is trying to prove you are you.”
The recent data breach that exposed the personal information of millions of South Africans to a suspected fraudster is the stuff of nightmares. Two months ago, the South African branch of credit-reporting company Experian admitted to sharing the information of as many as 24 million people and more than 600 000 businesses with someone they later discovered was a conman.
Craig Rosewarne, managing director of cybersecurity company Wolfpack Information Risk, says Experian is one of several companies that hold a massive amount of information on individuals.
“Their clients are typically banks and any company that wants information on consumers so they can do background or credit checks,” he says.
This information includes your ID number, physical address, property ownership and credit activity.
This story is from the 29 October 2020 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 29 October 2020 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'I'M BACK!'
ACK!’ Scandal after scandal hits Jacob Zuma, yet nothing ever brings him down. Now he’s plotting his return to parliament and he’s hinted he has his heart set on another term as president
A BRAIN YOU CAN COUNT ON
Meet Aaryan Shukla, the 13-year-old from India whos just been crowned the worlds fastest human calculator
FUN WHILE IT LASTED
It's all over for oddball couple Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher
THE TEEN MACHINE!
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has set the footballing world alight with his dazzling displays
A BETTER LIFE FOR ELIJAH
A rare condition means this little boy can't bend his arms and legs, but his parents are doing everything they can to give him a normal life
A DOCTOR'S JOURNEY
He chose to do one of the toughest jobs in medicine: looking after children who were dying. In this moving extract from his memoir, Cape Town paediatrician Alastair McAlpine reveals how, with wisdom and humour, sick kids taught him crucial lessons that changed his approach to life
'SA WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF ME'
Cindy Nell-Roberts is starting a new lite Down Under with her family. She tells YOU about the chaotic but happy p ansliepent why shes missing home
HOW TO SPOT A NARCISSIST
They often look like the most confident person in the room, but narcissists are insecure and desperate for validation, says a new book
DEFIANT TO THE END
He went from star athlete to Hollywood hero and ended up a reviled criminal but OJ Simpson remained unapologetic
BRING IT ON TAMMY!
Peet and Mel Viljoen arent going to let threats deter them from their fabulous life