The Online Scaries: being hacked, phishing, and get-rich-quick scams have plagued us for too long; Liberty pokes fun at these while helping to address SA’s financial fears.
South Africa (24 October 2025) – In the online world, it feels like everyone is out to get our money. Our inboxes are flooded by these “online scaries” daily, and they seem to be getting more sophisticated. Liberty has launched a campaign to warn SA against ‘financial fears’, just in time for Halloween.
The scaries are no longer hiding under our beds or in dark corners, but right there in our inboxes. They look like offers from your bank, security alerts to change your password or a get-rich-quick idea that sounds incredibly enticing. All it takes is one click of a bad link, and your life as you know it changes.
Phishing scams are getting smarter, and South Africans are increasingly in the crosshairs. In fact, cyber-criminals use seasonal events (like the holidays) to cast their widest nets. The result? Compromised accounts, drained savings, and weeks of financial chaos.
This is why Liberty is getting ahead of the silly season, encouraging South Africans not to fall for these financial scams. They came up with a clever Halloween-inspired campaign, featuring some iconic scary movies, to help South Africans stay alert to the types of scams out there.
The advice is simple: slow down and take a moment to consider what you are seeing. Protect yourself by staying alert to the tell-tale signs:
- Check the sender’s address – small spelling errors are big red flags
- Never click on links or attachments from unknown sources
- Watch out for urgency or fear tactics
- Scammers love a “limited-time offer”
- And if you’re ever unsure, contact the company directly through verified channels.
Awareness is key, and if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Liberty is turning these fears into ‘Financial Faith’ so that South Africans feel empowered to take preventive action when it comes to scammers.
This silly season, money nightmares will be a thing of the past. Use this moment to check in on your own financial well-being; review your goals, update your cover or speak to a Liberty Financial Adviser to help you prepare for the online scaries.
Because Liberty is ‘in it with you!’
by 