Tis the season to be careful

8 December 2015

Tis the season to be careful

The New Zealand Bankers’ Association is urging people to be vigilant as we head into the holiday season.

“It’s that time of the year when people have a lot on their plate preparing for summer’s festivities. At this busy time it pays to be extra vigilant with your cards and be weary of phishing and other online scams,” says New Zealand Bankers’ Association Chief Executive Kirk Hope.

“Fraudsters know we are often distracted at this time of year and will look for any opportunity to take advantage of people’s busy lives and increase in social activities.”

So whether you’re using an EFTPOS terminal to buy gifts, shopping online, or buying a round at your local pub, here are some tips on how to keep yourself safe this festive season:

· Guard your card. Treat it like cash. Don’t leave it lying around. Make sure you know where your card is at all times.

· Shop with trusted retailers. Before you provide personal information make sure they will protect that information

· Check you have a secure connection, which is shown by a padlock symbol somewhere on the page, and that the website address starts with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.

· Don’t reply to, click on any links, or open any files in spam emails or text messages.

· Check your statements. Advise your bank immediately of any unauthorised transactions.

“It’s important to remember that your bank will reimburse any losses if you’re the genuine victim of fraud. However, that promise doesn’t override your responsibility to protect access to your accounts.”

“Banks will be working hard this holiday season to protect you from financial crime. But we all have to play our part. By following these simple steps you too can help.” reminds Hope.

ENDS

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