Heighten vigilance over the festive season
There is nothing to kick-start the festive season like searching for the perfect gifts.
The convenience of online shopping offers a stress and hassle-free shopping experience; however, consumers must protect their personal information and take care when buying on the web.
“There are various ways that fraudsters can obtain the personal information that will allow them to defraud consumers through card not present (CNP) fraud,” says Charlaine Albertyn, from Cheque and Debit Card Fraud, at FNB Core Banking Solutions Risk Management.
Albertyn explains that card numbers, the expiry date and CVV numbers can easily be written down by fraudsters when a customer purchases goods at a merchant or restaurant, or information can be acquired from non-secure websites and spoofing emails, with a technique referred to as Phishing.
“There are many other, more sophisticated ways in which fraudsters can obtain your card data, and we constantly have to stay current in terms of the latest fraud trends, so that we can protect our customers and educate them,” she says.
Online shopping safety tips:
n Shop at online stores you know and trust. You can do this by making sure that the site has a padlock displayed on the page and by checking the overall functionality of the site.
Before sharing payment details, be certain that the URL begins with “https://”. The “s” at the end of the “http” confirms that the site has a secure connection.
* Look out for 3D Secure (Verified by Visa), a free service that allows you to use an additional personal password to protect your Visa card when you shop online.
* Register for security systems that will protect whilst transacting.
* Clean your browser often of its history, cookies and saved passwords.
* Never allow your computer to remember any password, even if it is your login details on an online retail store.
* Steer clear of giveaways and fake banking websites.
“Windows that pop up on your screen indicating that you ‘stand a chance to win’, or emails that take you directly to a bank’s landing page, should be avoided,” says Albertyn.
Safety reminders:
* The bank will never ask you to fill out any of your personal information in an email.
* The bank will never send you a link to a web page from which you have to log in.
* Make sure your anti-virus and spyware is up to date.
* Do not just click on pop-up windows, as scammers use pop-up ads and real looking websites to steal personal information.
* Test the website for overall functionality and check for any errors on the page.
* Always type your bank’s website in the URL toolbar.
* To avoid large amounts being withdrawn from your account in the event that you are defrauded, remember to lower your daily online payment limit and to contact your bank immediately should you suspect fraud.
“We urge our customers to register and use FNB’s free inContact SMS transaction notification service; an SMS that notifies you of transactions hitting your account.
“Also remember to check your statements regularly for any suspicious transactions and immediately report them to your bank,” adds Albertyn.
