For Facts’ Sake Ep 4: Scam Inc: How fraudsters turned the Internet into the Wild West
- Jun 26
- 1 min read
CINIA
Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (Stellenbosch University)
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Julie Reid
Script extract: Hello I am Tebadi Mmotla. Welcome to the fourth episode of For Facts’ Sake, a monthly podcast by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa – Cinia.
In this edition we look at a form of disinformation that’s used to facilitate crime – it’s called delusive speech, and its sole purpose is to scam you and me. And while this criminal speech happens online, it results in offline real-world harm.
Life has become so much easier since the arrival of online apps and platforms. With just a few taps on your phone, you can order an Uber or Bolt ride to pick you up in front of your gate and drop you right back home. When you want to experience a new country, you can book your flights and accommodation without leaving your couch. Even with shopping for groceries, you can do all that on your phone. Banking too has become effortless – you can transfer money instantly from one bank account to another. But recently, this online convenience sometimes comes with a painful cost…