Read the latest legal news, updates and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar & Associates.
AI can reproduce a trusted voice, face or writing style. A recent R21.55 million banking-fraud case shows why South African businesses must separate identity from authority—and how fast action can preserve recovery options.
Crypto scam recovery in South Africa has become an urgent legal issue as cryptocurrency scams continue to increase, often resulting in severe financial loss for victims. While crypto transactions are difficult to reverse and recovery is never guaranteed, early action can materially improve outcomes. Victims should immediately report the scam to their bank or crypto […]
The following article appeared in the Daily Maverick on 11 Aug. We’ve been following and writing about cybercrime for some time and this piece provides comprehensive information on the current status of online scams and how to respond. A must-read! Reprinted from the Daily Maverick, by Yeshiel Panchia – 2025-08-11 If you’ve ever received a […]
Despite increased vigilance, cybercrime continues to grow In a recent webinar on cybercrime, an audience poll revealed that over 50% of participants had experienced a financial scam of some sort. This does not mean all fell victim and lost money. We are all much more aware of scamming techniques and much more alert to suspicious […]
Cybercriminals are finding new ways to scam and con you Remember those halcyon days when the biggest consequence of having a cell phone stolen was the inconvenience and the potential loss of your photos and contacts? It’s hard to believe that was only around 10 years ago. If your phone is stolen now, the damage […]
Reprinted from Mondaq.com, by Mtho Maphumulo – 2024-10-22 Cybercrime remains rife, despite the efforts to combat it. In a recent court case, the court reaffirmed the legal position as to who bears responsibility for payment… Cybercrime remains rife, despite the efforts to combat it. In a recent court case, the court reaffirmed the legal position […]
What the AI Safety Summit and the Bletchley Declaration mean for the future of AI Key Points: Generative AI and large language models (LLMs): Development of generative AI and the use of LLMs like ChatGPT have brought AI into the public spotlight AI risks include: Factual error (e.g., “hallucinations”, or made-up sources) Disinformation and manipulation […]
You could be forgiven for thinking an investment manager would be unlikely to fall for a crypto scam – but it happened, and this one lost nearly R7m. Crypto fraudsters are very clever. Be extremely careful when investing in crypto. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Reprinted from The Guardian, […]
What is the legal framework in South Africa for cryptocurrency? Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Monero…what do they all have in common? They are all cryptocurrencies. You’ve probably heard of Bitcoin. Many people think Bitcoin and cryptocurrency are the same thing, but in fact Bitcoin is just one type of cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is a digital payment system […]
What you need to know about cyber extortion Have you received emails with subject lines such as “Please can we work on this project?” or “Your abandoned fund at King Shaka Airport, Durban”? Hopefully you’ve got a spam folder set up and your email server automatically redirects these fraudulent emails. Unless you check your spam […]
Attorneys are flocking to the crypto industry as it matures and manages its regulatory obligations In the US, the crypto currency industry is ramping up its legal presence, poaching attorneys from law firms and other crypto companies, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. We see this as good news for the […]
What it means for your privacy Cybercrime is on the increase in every aspect of life. Hardly a day goes by without a news item about the latest ransomware attack. But there is one type of cybercrime that is decidedly egregious. Cyber abuse, particularly when it involves bullying, disclosure of intimate images, or threats of […]
