The festive season rush is upon us, and during this period, criminals are typically targeting those with large sums of money.
Trish Ramdhani, head of fraud at FNB Card, shared some advice on how to transact safely online and avoid card fraud over the holidays.
“As we hit the holiday season, it is important to empower yourself to not fall victim to Card Not Present fraud, which occurs when neither the card nor the cardholder is present while a fraudulent transaction is being conducted.
“Earlier this year, Sabric reported that in 2019 CNP fraud amounted to 62 per cent of gross fraud losses on South African issued credit cards, and with a debit card amounted to 46.9 per cent,” said Ramdhani.
Ramdhani highlighted that online shopping continues to be a growing trend in South Africa, as more and more consumers regularly buy everything from basic household necessities to clothing, gifts and gadgets at the click of a button.
However, to continuously get the best experience when shopping online, it’s equally as important to ensure you are not caught off guard by online fraudsters.
Tips to consider when shopping online with your credit or debit cards
• Ensure you are buying from reputable websites and apps.
• Enter the provider’s website by typing in the web browsers yourself instead of accessing it via a search engine as it might lead you to a spoofed site.
• Never access the website from a link you receive in an email or SMS.
• Make sure you are not on a spoof site by clicking on the security icon on your browser tool bar to see a padlock and that the URL begins with https rather than http.
• Never save your personal and banking details on any merchant website. If the option presents itself, always remember to click ‘no’.
• Always remember to log off immediately when you have finished shopping.
• Always ensure you download the latest anti-virus software on your PC and mobile device where possible.
• Never provide your credit or debit card details unless you’ve initiated the transaction.
• Ensure your contact details are up to date in order to get notified when money leaves your account.
• Should you suspect any fraudulent activity, immediately report the incident through the banking app or contact the number at the back of your card.
Remember, banks will never ask you to share your one-time pin (OTP) over email, SMS or phone, so keep it safe.
“Following the above quick safety precautions and keeping up to date with the measures that your bank is using to prevent online fraud will give you peace of mind when shopping online with your credit or debit card,” concluded Ramdhani.
Also Read: ATM tips to avoid common scams this festive season
