Pause, verify, protect: Simple ways to stay safer online

Online scams often succeed by creating urgency. A message may appear genuine and pressure you to click a link, share information or approve a request before you have time to think.

Email accounts can be a gateway to other online services, whether they are personal addresses or work email accounts. These habits can reduce the risk:

·       Use a long, unique password for each account. Avoid names, dates or details that are easy to guess.

·       Store passwords in a trusted password manager instead of reusing or sharing them.

·       Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever possible.

·       Never share a username, password or one-time PIN following an unexpected request. Miway will never ask for a customer’s username or password.

·       Keep your email address and mobile number current on the Miway Self-Service Portal.

Fake links can closely resemble legitimate ones. On a computer, hover over a link to preview its destination. On a mobile device, avoid opening an uncertain link and instead navigate to the organisation’s official website independently. You can also type the organisation’s address into your browser or use a trusted bookmark.

Check the full address for misspellings, added words or small variations designed to mislead you. Miway’s legitimate website uses the www.miway.co.za domain.

Phishing is a deceptive message that appears to come from a trusted source and tries to persuade you to share sensitive information, open a harmful link or approve an unauthorised action.

These types of messages may target customers, employees or anyone responsible for handling or sharing information:

·       An unexpected request for personal or account information

·       Pressure to act immediately

·       A suspicious or misspelled web address

·       An unfamiliar attachment or login page

·       A request for a password or one-time PIN

If you clicked a suspicious link or shared personal, login or financial information, stop interacting with the message or website. Take appropriate steps to secure the affected account(s), such as changing passwords from a trusted device and enabling multi-factor authentication where available. If you shared banking or payment information, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. Report the incident to the affected service provider and, where appropriate, to the relevant law-enforcement or regulatory authority.

1.         Pause: Stop before responding to an unexpected or urgent message.

2.       Verify: Confirm the sender or request independently using contact details or a website you trust.

3.       Protect: Secure your accounts and report anything suspicious.

Staying safer online starts with a simple habit: pause before you act. Don’t use contact details or links provided in suspicious messages. Instead, use the organisation’s official website, app, or other trusted contact details to verify the request. For more guidance, visit Miway’s Stay Safe Online page.