Banking safely on your cellphone

 

Banking on your cellphone is a convenient on-the-go solution that enables you to bank, trade and invest 24/7. But fraudsters use a variety of tricks to con you into disclosing your confidential banking credentials to them, which they then use to access your accounts and commit fraud.

 

Here are some of the latest schemes:
 

  • You receive a call from someone posing as a Nedbank employee offering to reverse an incorrect debit order or fraudulent transaction. You may even receive a call from a supposed broker offering you an investment opportunity with guaranteed high returns, normally in cryptocurrencies. In both instances you are requested to share your Nedbank ID and password or card number and PIN so they can reverse the debit order or transaction or make the investment for you or pay you your investment returns.
  • You receive an SMS stating that there is a debit order or transaction on your account with a contact number to query it. You are asked for your Nedbank ID and password, card number and PIN, or asked to download software such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer on your device so the transaction can be reversed.
  • You receive an email that looks like it came from Nedbank asking you to click on a link or attachment to access your statement. When you click on the link, you are taken to a fake website and asked to enter your Nedbank ID and password or card number and PIN to view your statement. Nedbank will never ask you for your Nedbank ID and password or card number and PIN to view your statement. As we approach tax season, be on the lookout for phishing emails that seem to come from SARS. 

 

Here are some tips on how to protect yourself when using your cellphone for banking:
 

  • Never share your card number and PIN or Nedbank ID password with anyone – not even a Nedbank employee.
  • Always read your Approve-it messages carefully and decline the transaction you didn’t make and remember to report the incident to Nedbank immediately.
  • Never share your one-time password (OTP) with anyone.
  • If you have the Money app on a device and it’s lost or stolen, report this to us immediately on 0800 111 263.
  • If you receive an SMS for a SIM swap or number port you did not request, urgently let us know on 0800 111 263.
  • Never hand your phone over to anyone, not even a Nedbank employee, to transact on the app on your behalf.
  • If you send your cellphone in for repairs, we recommend that you delete your banking app and reinstall it once your phone has been returned to you.
  • Keep your passwords safe. Don’t use one username and password for all your logins, and ensure that your Nedbank ID username and password are not similar or the same, which would make it easier for fraudsters to guess your password. Don’t store your passwords on your device or in your browser.
  • You should report fraud and debit order disputes to us only by calling 0800 111 263. If you receive an SMS with any other number, delete it.
  • We will never ask you for your card number, PIN, Nedbank ID and password or ask you to download any software so we can access your device to reverse a transaction or debit order.
  • Never give a third-party control of your device, unless you can confirm they’re a legitimate representative of an IT support team from a company you trust.

 

Read our disclaimer here.