WINDHOEK – The last two months of the year normally goes hand in hand with an increase in fraud. From now until the New Year people are busy with many varied activities such as shopping, parties and crowded events. This provides fraudsters with an ideal opportunity to commit fraud-related crimes.
“It’s that time of the year when people should be more aware than ever of what is happening around them,” said Surihe Gaomas-Guchu, Public Relations and Corporate Communication Manager at Standard Bank Namibia. “Fraudsters prey on people in all sorts of settings and situations figuring that people are in the holiday spirit and will pay less attention,” added Gaomas-Guchu.
“This holiday season, give the gift of security. Remind your friends, family and clients to take additional precautions to prevent them from falling victim to bank fraud and financial scams,” noted Gaomas-Guchu.
Furthermore, she suggested some precautionary measures against fraud, including protect your Personal Identification Number (PIN). “It is very important to protect your PIN when using your credit or debit card this holiday season. Never share it with anyone, never write it down and always have different PINs for different cards. It is important to use your hand or body as a shield when entering your PIN on a keypad and if anything seems unusual at an ATM or point-of-sales machine, don’t use it and report the situation to police or your bank.”
She also advised customers to immediately report lost or stolen cards. “In the flurry of holiday shopping you may forget to remove your card from the ATM slot, or have your wallet stolen. Make sure to report any lost or stolen debit or credit cards straight away to your bank. You should also check your bank account on a regular basis to make sure that no unusual transactions have been made (this should be done all year round). If you see any suspicious activity, report it to your bank immediately. And, if you hand your credit or debit card to a retailer to make a purchase, make sure it is your own card when they hand it back.” Gaomas-Guchu also warned the public to keep their personal information safe, saying “identity thieves love crowded shops and hurried shoppers. It is the perfect time for shoulder surfers: those who purposely overhear conversations with shop assistants or look over your shoulder for personal information. Be sure to keep your personal information covered whenever paying for purchases or talking with a sales clerk. Lastly, do not share personal information in emails with persons that you do not know well.”
By Staff Reporter