WINDHOEK – More and more people are using their cards instead of cash to make payments at various outlets around the country.
This is a convenient means of payment for many clients who do not want to carry loads of cash. However, using a debit or credit card does carry a risk, one of which is card skimming or card cloning. Card skimming or cloning, is the process of illegally copying information from a bank card’s magnetic strip by using special skimming devices. Card skimming can occur while making a payment with a Point-of-Sale (POS) device at your favourite food outlet, restaurant or clothing store or at ATM machines.
As the festive season draws closer and people start to do their Christmas shopping, Bank Windhoek would like to warn its clients and the general public to always be alert when using a bank card. Clients are urged to familiarize themselves with the look and feel of their bank’s ATM machines and report any suspicious devices on these machines to their bank. Clients should also take caution when making purchases online through online payment systems, such as Paypal, as their card information can also be fraudulently obtained if their computer, laptop, cellphone or tablet anti-virus, spyware and firewall protection is not active and up-to-date. “If you lose your card while making an ATM transaction, cancel your card immediately by calling the bank’s helpline or customer contact centre. Regularly familiarise yourself with your account balance and monitor transactions on your account. Always keep your card save and in sight when you do a transaction and treat it like you would treat cash,” advised Ina Muir, Forensic Auditor at Bank Windhoek.
By Staff Reporter