African Travel

  Emmanuel Tzingakis, Technical Lead: Sub-Saharan Africa at Trend Micro, shares his advice on how to stay safe when buying tickets online.  

There is no doubt that South Africans are excited to head back to stadiums to watch sport and to watch their favourite musicians. This can be seen in the almost immediate sell out of the Springboks versus Ireland test matches and the return of a number of international music acts like James Blunt, Take That, Green Day and The Offspring.

To secure a seat at one of these thrilling events, South Africans have hopped online to purchase their tickets. And as is the case with anything that involves a digital interaction and transaction, consumers are exposed to cyber risks. These can include phishing, malware and fake websites.

“There’s often a lot of excitement that comes with booking for a live event and this can lead to consumers being a little more relaxed about their online safety,” says Emmanuel Tzingakis, Technical Lead: Sub-Saharan Africa at Trend Micro. “Consumers need to be extra careful when it comes to booking for major concerts or sports matches, because there’s no doubt that cybercriminals will be looking for an opportunity to prey on unsuspecting victims.”

To help consumers protect themselves from cybercriminals and online ticket fraud, Tzingakis shares his top tips on how to spot a scam and stay safe.

1. Buy from a reputable ticket seller

Organisers will include the details of the approved and official ticket seller for their event. So when purchasing, double check that it is the correct and authorised platform to avoid ticket fraud.

There are a select number of websites in South Africa that are most commonly used by large sporting events and concerts because they have the right security measures in place to handle these transactions safely. This includes payment portals that are secure, ensuring your information and credit card details are protected from cybercriminals.

1. Double check the website address

Fake websites can be easily recreated by scammers around an event to lure unsuspecting victims in handing over their hard-earned money and private information. Before entering any personal or financial details, make sure the website is secure.

A secure website will have a URL that starts with “https://” and a padlock to the left of the site address. This indicates that the website encrypts the data that you send and receive and makes it harder for hackers to intercept or steal this information. If these features are missing or your browser warns you that the website is not secure, do not continue with the transaction and leave the site.

1. Be wary of phishing emails and SMSes

Cybercriminals will often pose as legitimate organisations such as banks, delivery services or ticket sellers using fraudulent emails, SMSes or WhatsApps. These phishing scams will then try to encourage the user to click on a malicious link, which can either open an infected attachment, or send them to a website to hand over sensitive information like passwords, or credit card details.

Avoid falling victim to a phishing scam by checking who the message is from. If you don’t recognise the name or number of the sender, don’t click on any link in the message. Other key features of a phishing message include bad spelling and grammar, as well as a tone that tries to create a sense of urgency. It’s safer to not reply to the message with any personal information, and rather ignore and delete the message if it appears suspicious.

1. Use a strong password and activate 2FA

When signing up for a ticket seller’s website, you’ll often need to create a profile with a username and password. Use a strong password that can’t be easily guessed by a hacker. Try to ensure that the password is at least eight characters and includes letters, numbers and symbols.

Some websites might give you the option to activate two-factor authentication (2FA). This is a great way to add another layer of security to your account. Should a hacker acquire your login details, 2FA prevents them from gaining access by sending a one-time pin or code via SMS or email. Without this code, they cannot access your account. 2FA is also a great way to alert you to suspicious activity on your account. If you receive a one-time pin that you haven’t requested, you can alert the website and change your password to prevent them from signing in.

“It’s great to be back at live events, enjoying time with friends and family,” says Tzingakis. “And buying tickets online to our favourite matches and concerts is often the only way we can make sure we secure our seat to these festivities, but it can leave us exposed to cyber risks. It’s vital that we stay vigilant so as not to fall victim to online ticket fraud or phishing scam. With some basic digital hygiene habits and cybersecurity awareness, consumers can stop cybercriminals in their tracks.”

Bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco is located in the Northwest corner of Africa. Lying 13 kilometers from the coast of Spain, the country mixes Middle Eastern Magic, Berber tradition, and European flair. Morocco is a multilingual nation that speaks modern standard Arabic and Tamazight as their official language and of course English. 

It follows the same seasonal similarity to any other country in the northern hemisphere, however, the best times to visit are during the spring season, March-May and later during the fall season of September –November when temperatures are less aggressive from cold, wet winters along the coastal and ice-snowy Atlas mountains to really hot and dry uncomfortable summers especially at the southwest side of the country due to getting closer to the Sahara desert and when crowds are lighter.

There are a lot of activities from sightseeing, surfing, quad biking, hot air balloon flights, and camel rides to annual festivals some are worth planning a trip such as a world music festival and the Marrakesh famous Arts festival to mention but a few. 

Agadir which is the country’s main resort town is a destination for those who enjoy surfing. The beaches lining the Atlantic coast are acclaimed for their surf and surf operators who are plentiful such that this is a wonderful place even to learn. It is safe to swim in the Atlantic and the water is warmest in the late summers, so if you want to experience surfing and swimming in the Atlantic in Morocco, Agadir is one of the places to be. If you're after full facilities, with easy access to cafés and restaurants while on the sand, head to one of the two private sections known as Palm Beach and Sunset Beach. These two strips sit in front of Agadir's central tourism district and offer up the promise of easy-going days of sun and sand.

Want a beach but also want to explore some of Morocco's many historic attractions? Step right up, Essaouira. This small city is a fine compromise. The central walled old town, with sturdy seafront ramparts that hold back the Atlantic Ocean's waves, is a maze of wriggling alleys and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of Morocco’s beach towns and resorts are close to some of the country’s most famous historical sights. One can also make day trips into the Anti Atlas down on the Southern Atlantic Coast. The central Atlantic coast gives easy access to Marrakesh, this gives one a mixture of sunbathing and cultural sightseeing.

The pragmatic city of Marrakesh is not only known to be situated right by Atlas Mountain but is one that is full of history with a lively night marketplace, Djemaa el-Fna which is also best known for selling spices and jewelry in the medina souks.

For adrenaline junkies, quad biking, sand boarding, and skiing on the exquisite plethora of incredible dunes of the Sahara Desert provide the best experience worth the tan under the blazing blue skies but if one requests for a calm, slow, and yet memorable experience throughout the day then camel riding might be a considerable choice. This riding experience can be from hours to days given the itinerary and if camping, be best prepared with a good sleeping bag because temperatures can drop drastically.

More delightful activities such as the hot air balloon ride overviewing the magnificent Atlas Mountain and one of the most glorious sceneries of the four great valleys have to offer, embarks on a breath-taking memorable experience that is worth the cost not to mention how affordable they are. And speaking of affordable, private transfers from the airport to your hotel can be as little as $8.35 avoiding wasting time waiting for public transport good accommodation rates from $145 per person, and discounts are provided if your stay is lengthy and free cancellation in at least 24 hours before the arrival date.

Morocco is a relatively safe place to travel if you understand its laws and cultural customs and adhere to the status quo. Morocco is a conservative Islamic country so if you’re a solo traveler, a female traveler, and or a person who identifies as LGBTQIA+ you may face extra challenges. It is important to therefore be extra diligent when traveling to or through Morocco to understand the risks that you may face and know how to avoid or deal with them.

There isn’t a specific law, but it’s merely recommended that women for their safety should wear clothing that covers most of their body as wearing clothes that are revealing is unusual and may attract unwanted attention. It is important to always dress respectfully to avoid potential problems even if the weather is extremely hot outside. In many areas of Morocco, particularly at night, women may feel uncomfortable with the approaches or attention from locals. Unfortunately, verbal harassment on the streets is common in Morocco and women can be specifically targeted if walking alone at any time of the day. Female travelers, especially by themselves, can attract unwanted attention from men on the streets and have an increased chance of being followed, accosted, and sometimes assaulted. If possible, travel in groups of three or more and keep to well-lit streets when on the move.

For more information on how to stay safe in Morocco as a female tourist visit 

https://www.tangiertaxi.com/blog/prohibited-morocco-8-points-keep-mind/