As the international back-to-school season starts, Kaspersky’s cybersecurity experts have detected a significant surge in fraudulent activities. Cybercriminals exploit academic topics, launching sophisticated phishing campaigns.

However, Kaspersky experts warn that this year, the campaigns have become more targeted, specifically aiming to steal personal data from students, educators, and administrators in the educational sector.

Fraudsters are increasingly leveraging data collection forms on platforms like SurveyHeart.com, a questionnaire like Google Forms, to carry out scams.

In one such scheme – a phishing attack that targets students at Neumann University in the U.S. – victims receive a notification claiming they are using two different Microsoft school emails across various university portals.

To prevent their Office 365 account from being deactivated, they are asked to complete a survey requiring sensitive details such as their name, phone number, university email, and account password.

Another scam uncovered by Kaspersky experts involves fraudsters creating fake giveaways that promise students a chance to win various high-end gadgets useful for education, from iPhones to iPads and laptops.

To enter these enticing contests, victims are asked to provide personal information and indicate their preferred laptop model.

Additionally, individuals are prompted to share a link to a prize-draw page with 15 contacts via WhatsApp. While the prospect of winning a valuable item like a laptop is the lure, there’s a hidden catch: the so-called winners are told they must pay for the delivery of their prizes. This demand for additional payment is a clear red flag that the giveaway is a scam.

The offer may seem tempting, but the combination of an unusually generous prize and the requirement to cover delivery costs is a telltale sign of fraudulent activity.

“These scams go beyond immediate data theft and could lead to more serious, long-term consequences,” cautions Olga Svistunova, a security expert at Kaspersky.

“If attackers gain access to private school information, such as class schedules, it could be exploited for doxing, stalking, cyberbullying, or even identity theft. It’s essential for students to be vigilant and cautious when responding to such suspicious notifications.”

Climate Action Africa is proud to announce the launch of Scorecard of States (SOS) Webinar Series, set to debut on Thursday, 26 September 2024, with the theme: Unveiling Climate Action at the Subnational Level. This initiative is a crucial step in advancing climate resilience and fostering eco-conscious communities across Nigeria, focusing on the pivotal role of subnational governments in driving climate action.

As Nigeria continues to take proactive steps towards addressing climate change, the recent 2024 Climate Governance Performance Ranking report has spotlighted the diverse performance of Nigeria’s 36 states. Notably, Lagos, Gombe, and Ebonyi have emerged as top performers, demonstrating significant progress in institutional arrangements and project implementation. While these successes are commendable, they also highlight the ongoing need for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation to further enhance climate action at the state level.

The SOS Webinar Series by Climate Action Africa is designed to serve as a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing, policy influence, and stakeholder engagement. Through this series, we aim to showcase and discuss the climate change and sustainability initiatives of Nigerian states, explore the challenges they face, and promote innovative solutions that can inform and influence climate policies at the subnational level.

This webinar series will run for a year, with government representatives from 3 different states appearing as speakers every month. Each session will focus on the unique climate challenges and successes of four states, fostering a comprehensive understanding of subnational climate action across Nigeria.

Why This Matters

The Scorecard of States is not just a discussion series; it is a vital mechanism for driving climate action where it is needed most — at the state level. Subnational governments are at the forefront of implementing climate policies that directly impact local communities. This series, through highlighting state-level initiatives, sharing successes and challenges, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, will contribute to a more resilient and sustainable Nigeria.

Upcoming Event Details

The first series is scheduled to hold as follows:

Date: Thursday, 26 September 2024

Time: 2:00 PM WAT

Duration: 90 minutes

Format: Zoom Webinar

Keynote Address: Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga – Director, Intergovernmental Support and Collective Progress Division, UNFCCC.

Participating States: Abia, Kano, and Ekiti.

Panelists: Chris Ike – Director, Climate Change Department, Abia State Ministry of Environment; Umar Saleh Anka – Director, Environment and Climate Change at Kano Watershed, Erosion and Climate Change Management Agency KN-WECCMA, Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; and Akinola Babatunde Peter – Director, Climate Change and Nature Conservation, Ministry of environment and natural resources Ado ekiti Nigeria.

Call for Sponsors and Partners

Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available to support this impactful initiative. We invite organizations, businesses, and stakeholders committed to climate action to join us in making this series a success.

Partnering with us will enable you to play a key role in advancing climate resilience across Nigeria, gaining visibility among a diverse audience of policymakers, climate action leaders, researchers, and community stakeholders.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or partnership discussions, please contact: [email protected] .

Join us for this impactful event as we pave the way for enhanced climate action across Nigeria.

Whether your dreams include buying a home, starting a business, or traveling the world, sound financial management is the key to turning these dreams into reality.

Personal finance is the comprehensive practice of managing your money in a way that aligns with your financial aspirations and goals.

This multifaceted discipline includes a variety of activities such as budgeting, saving, investing, and planning for retirement. Each of these components plays a crucial role in ensuring your financial stability and growth.

Budgeting in personal finance is the process of creating a plan to manage your income, expenses, and savings. It involves deciding in advance how you will allocate your money to cover various needs and goals.

Here are some key points about budgeting, Income and Expenses, Spending Control, Savings. Creating a budget can give you more control over your finances and help you achieve both short-term and long-term financial stability. Do you have any specific goals or areas you’d like to focus on in your budget?

Savings refers to the portion of your income that you set aside and do not spend immediately. This money is typically reserved for future use, such as emergencies, large purchases, or long-term goals like buying a house or retirement. cash idling in a savings account becomes wasteful because it loses purchasing power to inflation over time.

Instead, cash not tied up in an emergency should be placed in something that will help it maintain its value or grow, such as investments.

Investing is the act of allocating money into financial assets or ventures with the expectation of generating a profit or income over time. Investing can be a powerful tool for growing your wealth, but it’s important to understand the risks and do thorough research or consult with a financial advisor.

Planning for retirement in personal finance involves preparing financially for the period in your life when you will no longer be working full-time.

The goal is to ensure you have enough money saved and invested to maintain your desired lifestyle after you stop working. It’s never too early to start planning and seeking advice from a financial advisor can be very helpful.

Keep in mind that managing personal finances is an ongoing journey, not a single destination. The financial landscape is always evolving, and it’s crucial to stay informed and adaptable.

Continuously educating yourself about new financial strategies and adapting to changing circumstances will help you navigate this journey successfully. By doing so, you can ensure that your financial decisions are well-informed and aligned with your long-term goals.

Here are few steps to aid your journey into sound personal finance management.

1. Access your Financial Health

Financial health refers to the overall condition of your financial situation, encompassing all actions that impact your monetary affairs. It’s important to recognize that everyone’s circumstances are unique, so it’s essential to tailor your assessment to your personal needs and goals. Financial health includes various aspects, such as:

• Cash Balance: A growing cash balance indicates positive financial health.
• Expenses and Debt: Monitor your expenses and debt, such as credit cards, mortgages, and loans. Aim for minimal fluctuations in expenses.
• Savings and Net Worth: Assess your net worth—whether it’s positive or negative. Consider your savings, investments, and assets available for current or future use.
• Investment Returns: Strong returns on investments contribute to financial health. Diversify your investments for stability.

To improve your financial health:

• Assess your net worth                                          Pay down your debts
• Create a budget you can stick to                         Build an emergency fund

2. Understanding Investment basics

An investment involves using capital in the present to increase an asset’s value over time. It’s the act of allocating resources (usually money) with the expectation of generating income, profit, or gains.

When making an investment decision, an individual must consider some key factors; investment objective, risk and return, liquidity need and investment duration.

• Investment Objective

An investment objective is a set of financial goals that guide an investor’s decisions regarding their investment. The objective of the investment defines the goal of an investment.

It could be Increasing the value of your investment over time (Growth), generating regular income from the investment (Income), Protecting the initial investment from loss or a combination of more than one.

Understanding your investment objective helps in creating a tailored investment strategy that aligns with your personal finance goal.

• Risk and Returns

In personal finance, risk refers to the potential for losing some or all your investment. When considering risk, it’s important to understand both your willingness and ability to take risks. These two concepts help determine your overall risk tolerance.

Willingness to Take Risk

This is your personal comfort level with taking risks. It reflects your attitude and emotional response to potential losses and gains.

Some people are naturally more risk-averse, preferring safer investments, while others are more risk-tolerant and comfortable with the possibility of higher losses for the chance of higher returns.