Information Technology specialists have warned that cyber criminals were trying to cash in on the upcoming FIFA Confederation
Cup and the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
There has been an increase in the number of hackers trying to use the soccer spectaculars to make a quick buck by advertising
unbelievable offers of cheap tickets and accommodation, The Times reported on Thursday.
"If it sounds too good to be true then it's not true," said Candid Wuest, a threat researcher with Symantec. "People need to make sure that they do their transaction with official websites.
"There are cases of people trying to lure others to buy tickets, saying that they have the last two tickets for a particular match.
These [claims] will grow in the run-up to the games and people need to be extra careful."
The warning comes shortly after the release of Symantec's Internet security threat report, which showed that cyber crime in
developing countries, including many in Africa, was increasing.
According to the report, South Africa is the 50th worst-affected by cyber crime.