BIG ISSUE scam crime report back

We have taken out an insurance policy to cover loss of money through fraudulent activities. We are still waiting on the final cybercrime report from Wolfpack Information Risk. The banks have informed us that we have no claim to the stolen funds because the fraudsters have utilised our funds already.

A HUGE THANK YOU

We sincerely thank everyone who has kindly donated in their personal capacity, as a WhatsApp group, company, philanthropist, trust or foundation. At the time of going to print (10 November) and four weeks after the launch of our urgent appeal for donations, we have reached just under 40% of our target. We continue to ask for donations and urge good citizens to support our NGO and vendors to ensure that they and their families will have food on their table this Christmas, and for The Big Issue to continue chasing good causes. We appreciate how SA families are under financial pressure to make budgets work in a faltering economy, but your assistance will go a long way in saving The Big Issue. Thanks go to our online community for the outpouring of support and efforts to spread the word about our urgent appeal. Every like, share and donation makes an impact on the lives of all those who rely on our organisation.

AS SEEN ON FACEBOOK

“The Big Issue is a great initiative. Vendors deserve our unwavering support all the time, and especially now. Thankfully most people can see how this initiative helps hundreds of families. R30 or any donation to the cause is one small way we can each do our part. It’s about community.” – Amanda Risi.

DONATE VIA QR CODE

We have launched a ‘donate via SnapScan’ option for those who prefer to donate digitally – see the back page ad in this magazine on how to do that, and via our social media channels.

MEDIA APPEARANCES

I was interviewed live via Zoom on SABC TV Evening News by Imam Rappetti, by Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk and Kim Swartz for TimesLive.

OUR URGENT APPEAL CONTINUES

Please consider donating directly to The Big Issue and/or buying magazines to support the vendors and their families. The end of November to 20 December is the time vendors work extra hard because they need the money earned for the holidays, taxi fare to re-join their families for Christmas in the Eastern Cape and for back-to- school necessities for their children in early January 2024. 160 000 Grade R-3 learners in township schools across our country are also affected by this horrible crime. We simply HAVE to recover the funds in order to keep printing little issue magazine, South Africa’s only multilingual, CAPS-aligned, full colour, crayon-friendly, all-in-one literacy and learning 48-page publication delivered FREE directly to schools. It is little issue’s mission to nurture the minds of the next generation of South Africans from an early age and especially those whose families that are under-resourced and poor.

We appeal to corporate CSI departments, trusts, foundations and philanthropists to consider donating, to help us recover from this massive loss due to an email cybercrime. Be assured our Standard Bank account is safe and secure.

A SHOUT OUT TO SENDMARC

A software product called DMARC by Sendmarc, we discovered, has the power to verify the source of an email. It’s a proven way to stop impersonators, protecting against email phishing and impersonation attacks. In conversation with Sean Campbell, their Business Development Manager, Sean’s message is clear: “Let’s face the facts – small businesses are in the crosshairs, with nearly 43% of cyberattacks aimed at them. The damage, both financial and to your reputation, can be severe. But you don’t have to be a statistic. DMARC is your ally in safeguarding your business and the trust of those who depend on you.”

You can speak to Turrito Networks about setting DMARC up and ensuring it stays optimally configured – www.turrito.com and www.sendmarc.com.

A Section 18a tax exemption certificate is available on request for all donations to The Big Issue.