Fraud has evolved and so must consumers - top tips

01 July 2009 12:10:55

Follow these tips and you should be well on your way to being aware of the dangers of fraud you face on a day-to-day basis.

At the ATM

• Never tell ANYONE your pin number. Not even bank staff should know this; just you.
   
• ALWAYS cover your pin when entering it into the cash machine.
   
• Be on the lookout for suspicious devices in the card slot or elsewhere on the machine – these can be quite convincing and include "skimming" machines that copy your cards details on the magnetic stripe while it is on its way into the real ATM card slot.
  
  A tiny camera then records you entering in your pin. When you have completed the transaction, the fraudster will remove the devices, transfer your card details from the "skimmer" to any other card with a magnetic strip (eg a mobile phone top-up card) and use it, along with your pin, to withdraw cash from ATMs or for transactions abroad. Look out for images from the bank about what the ATM you are using should look like. If anything rouses your suspicions DON’T use the machine and report it to the bank.
   
• Never leave your debit or credit card unattended. If your card is stuck in the machine, ask someone else to go into the branch for you or use your phone to report it.
   
• Never listen to 'advice' from another customer in the queue – especially if your card is stuck and they tell you to enter your pin again.
  
  This is because some fraudsters are now entering devices into the ATM card slot so your card becomes stuck. The con artist would then say they’d seen the problem before, instruct you to enter your pin again and watch as you enter it. Then when you go into the bank to report the problem, the card and fraudster are both gone. Your card is then used to withdraw cash around the corner.

At a Point of sale (POS) terminal

• ALWAYS cover your pin when entering it in to a card reader when you go to pay for items.
   
• Don’t let your card out of your sight. If you are at a restaurant and want to pay your bill by card, the waiter should bring a card machine to your table for you to enter your debit or credit card yourself and enter your pin.
  
  Some fraudsters have "skimming" devices hidden away and run your card through this before putting it in the POS machine. Meanwhile, a tiny camera will record you entering in your pin and he fraudster will have all the information needed to use your card in cash machines or abroad.

On the internet, over the phone and mail order (Card Not Present transactions)

• You can create a "virtual pin" for your cards by registering Visa-issued cards with ‘Verified by Visa’ and your MasterCard-issued cards with "MasterCard Secure Code".
  
  You will create a password that only you know for each of your cards and then when you complete a transaction, registered cards will require the password in order to complete the transaction. Treat these passwords as you would a pin – never tell anyone what they are.
   
• Never store or carry your cards along with your full address.
  
  Fraudsters need only the information from these documents to complete a transaction online or by the phone. They will then arrange for the goods to be delivered to an alternative address (their own), but the bill will come to the billing address (your home).
   
• Check to see that the pages you are entering card details into are secure.
  
  Look for different coloured web address bars, padlocks in the address bar or on the open "window" you are using, and https:// at the start of the page URL.
   
• Only use what you believe to be the legitimate websites, phone numbers and addresses of the business supplying the goods or services you are paying for via these channels.  

  Card fraud story | Tips on card fraud

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