LJ Financial Solutions

LJ Financial Solutions Accounting services offered at a competitive rate. We specialize in monthly bookkeeping, payroll, Vat & Income tax returns & all other SARS related issues

Accounting Services and Tax Preparation Services. We do your tax right the first time

02/06/2026

Business email compromise (BEC) is when scammers pretend to be someone you trust, like a company leader, co-worker, or supplier, using email. Their goal is to trick you into sending money or sharing personal information. This may occur through deceptive emails, fake invoices, or, in some cases, malicious links.

Scammers often

•Gain unauthorised access to, or spoof (fake), a legitimate email address

•Change banking details on invoices

•Pretend to be a senior leader requesting an urgent payment

•Impersonate suppliers demanding 'overdue' payments

•Pretend to be IT or administrative staff requesting password resets

•Fake invoices or payment requests - emails that appear to come from a known supplier, asking for payment to new or changed banking details

•Executive or authority impersonation - emails that seem to come from a senior manager or trusted authority, pressuring you to make urgent payments or transfers

•Fake emails from recruiters - emails offering job opportunities and asking for personal information or upfront fees

•Property or rental scams - scammers intercept emails between rental agents and tenants and send false banking details so rental payments are diverted

•Recurring unauthorised debit orders - scammers obtain banking details through deceptive emails and set up small recurring debit orders (from as little as R99) that may go unnoticed over time

How you can protect yourself

Pause when something feels urgent; think before acting

Always verify requests by phoning a trusted number you already have, not the one provided in the message

Check details carefully, as small errors or changes may indicate fraud

Never share passwords, banking details, CVVs or OTPs with anyone

Enable your inContact SMS notifications to receive an alert for each transaction on your account

Review your bank statements regularly for unknown or recurring debit orders

Never click on links or share your banking details where required to do so

17/04/2026

As AI technology advances, scammers are using it to deceive individuals and carry out scams.

These scams might involve using AI-generated voice, video or text to impersonate trusted sources, like bank representatives or even family members, to trick them into giving up personal information or transferring funds.

In some cases, these scams can be incredibly sophisticated, leveraging deepfakes, voice synthesis, and automated chatbots to appear more legitimate. As a result, the losses can be substantial, and some victims may lose millions before realising they’ve been scammed.

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) has urged the public to exercise extreme caution as banks report a significant rise in the involvement of bank customers in fraudulent investment schemes. These scams, which promise high returns with little to no risk, have already affected thousands of customers.

The financial watchdog has also urged people to be cautious when conducting financial services business with so called ‘investments companies’, and that people should refrain from accepting financial advice, assistance, or investment offers from individuals or entities not authorised by the FSCA.

Tips

Never rely solely on a video to make investment decisions

If you receive an investment pitch via video, try to contact the company or individual through a known, verified channel like a company website or a direct phone number

If you’re unsure, reach out to a trusted financial advisor to verify the legitimacy of the investment opportunity

Be wary of high-pressure tactics. Scammers often use urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions

Be cautious of what you share online. Most of us have an online and social media presence, but the photos, videos and information we share can be exploited. These resources can train deepfakes, which, once created and shared, are difficult to detect and remove

Use AI-powered email filters to detect suspicious emails, such as those that may come from unfamiliar domains or have signs of deepfake manipulation in them. This helps reduce the chances of individuals being tricked by scammers

01/04/2026

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any small business. You can be profitable on paper and still struggle to pay suppliers, salaries or VAT if clients are not paying you on time. For many small business owners, the stress of chasing invoices is not just frustrating. It is disruptive, time consuming and financially dangerous.
Late payments from customers are not merely administrative inconveniences. They directly affect your liquidity, your ability to grow and your personal financial stability. The good news is that payment discipline can be systemised.

Set Clear Payment Terms Before Work Begins
Most payment disputes arise from unclear expectations.

Small business owners often avoid difficult conversations at the start of a relationship, whereas upfront clarity protects both parties. When expectations are communicated upfront, accountability improves

26/03/2026

Phishing

Phishing is a method used by fraudsters to obtain your sensitive information such as card number, CVV, online banking credentials etc. It is done by an email request sent with fake links to websites, prompting you to disclose information. Spot fake website URLs by checking for subtle misspellings, unusual characters, extra words, or unfamiliar domain extensions that mimic legitimate websites.

TIP
Never click on any links in an email, SMS or WhatsApp messages, even if the message appears to be from FNB, or give out sensitive information such as card details, log in credentials and one time PINs (OTPs).

26/03/2026

Courier scams

Scammers are impersonating courier companies in an attempt to obtain your sensitive information. You might receive a message that will direct you to a fake courier website. You will then be required to pay a small fee using your card and to reschedule your delivery.

TIP
Never click suspicious links or share personal details; always verify with the courier. If you fall victim, report it immediately, change your passwords, and monitor your accounts for unauthorised transactions.



Digital wallet and card fraud

This refers to any activity that involves the unauthorised use of your card information which was obtained and fraudulently added to a digital wallet to make fraudulent transactions. It happens when you unknowingly provide the fraudster with sensitive information, such as your card details, login credentials, and one-time PINs (OTPs). The fraudster then loads this information into a digital wallet and starts transacting with your card details. You will receive an inContact message when your FNB card information is being fraudulently linked to a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

TIP
If you have not added your card to a digital wallet and you receive a message indicating that your card is being linked to a digital wallet, do not approve this request and contact our 24/7 fraud desk

26/03/2026

Fake websites

Criminals create fake online stores that mimic legitimate retailers, offering unbelievable deals to attract shoppers. An example of this could be a fake online store that looks very similar to a popular retailer's website.The fraudulent site might have a domain name like 'bestsalesonline.shop' or 'discountdealsstore.com' and offer extremely low prices, advertising massive discounts like '70% off on all items'.

TIP
Always verify the website's URL, look for secure payment methods (like a padlock symbol), read reviews, and avoid deals that seem unrealistically good.

26/03/2026

ATM Card Swapping

Fraudsters swap your card for another one while you are busy at the ATM. They often work in groups. While one person may distract you, the other does the card swapping. They will also stand close to you to ‘shoulder surf’the PIN information. You may leave the ATM with the wrong card if you’re distracted by a scammer, allowing them to use the stolen card immediately to empty your account.

TIP
If your card is stolen, block it immediately. Don’t accept help from strangers, and always stay alert of your surroundings at the ATM.

26/03/2026

Beware of Fraudulent Calls Impersonating the Bank

Fraudsters may call you pretending to be from your bank, attempting to trick you into sharing sensitive information, such as your account details, passwords, or PINs by creating a sense of urgency or claiming suspicious activity on your account. This is also known as vishing. The bank will never ask for your full banking details over the phone, so never share sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and call the fraud centre.

05/03/2026

Beneficial Ownership reporting is no longer a procedural submission. It is a live compliance risk. Many entities filed Beneficial Ownership details reactively when the requirements were introduced. Few have reviewed whether those disclosures remain accurate and aligned with evolving tax and trust reporting.

What you need to know…

Information filed with CIPC for companies and trusts is shared and cross referenced with SARS and other regulatory authorities. The data is analysed, reconciled and compared against tax returns, distributions, related party transactions and third-party reporting. If your declarations are inaccurate, incomplete or misaligned with your tax filings, the discrepancy will not go unnoticed.

SARS is operating within a system driven, data integrated compliance environment. This means:

Ownership disclosures are matched to income tax returns
Trust IT3(t) submissions are compared to beneficiary declarations
Dividend and distribution records are reconciled against declared ownership
Banking and transactional data is cross checked
The margin for error has narrowed significantly. Incorrect Beneficial Ownership reporting can trigger:

Compliance notices
Automated penalties
Heightened audit selection risk
Scrutiny of related party transactions
Personal exposure for trustees and directors

Social media has become a daily essential. Whether we’re connecting with loved ones, sharing our perspectives, or explor...
05/03/2026

Social media has become a daily essential. Whether we’re connecting with loved ones, sharing our perspectives, or exploring new ideas, we instinctively turn to our favourite platforms to stay informed and inspired.

But as our digital presence grows, so does the risk. These platforms have also become fertile ground for scammers looking to exploit our trust and target us when we least expect it.

Be careful not to fall for giveaways or contests that appears to good to be true, that promise you valuable prizes in exchange for your personal information

Remember that genuine giveaways will always be conducted through a company’s official channels and they will not ask you for sensitive information in order to participate.

If an investment opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.

When you encounter a quiz or personality test on social media that asks for unnecessary personal details or permissions, do not proceed.

Scammers can use this to trick you into answering security questions helping them to collect personal information to target you for more personalised phishing scams, hack your accounts or commit identity theft.

Always verify the sender’s identity before responding.

If in doubt, contact the person directly via call, text, or email for confirmation..

Address

178B Kruger Street
Rustenburg
0299

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 13:00

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