Card Security Advisory

In view of prevailing fraud trends affecting the credit card industry, we hope that this message of caution would help you.

Credit card fraud is a serious crime that can cost you and the issuing bank losses. However, you can also take the following precautionary measures as safeguards against fraudsters and tricksters.

Here's what you can do to minimise the risk of falling victim to credit card fraud:

Precautions:
* Sign on the signature panel of your new credit card immediately when you receive it.
* Keep your credit card in the same place in your wallet or purse so that you will notice it immediately when it goes missing.
* Never lend your credit card to anyone.
* Never provide your credit card details - card number, expiry date, CVV [Card Verification Value for VISA cards] or CVC [Card
Verification Code [for MasterCard] to unknown parties. The CVV/CVC are the last three digits on the signature panel.
* Never write down your PIN number at the back of your credit card or keep it in your wallet; always memorise your PIN number.
* Cut your expired credit card into two [across the chip] when you receive your renewed card.
* Never respond to email, website or phone inquiries requesting your credit card information.
* Don't divulge your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a Company you know is reputable.
* Don't leave your cards lying around - remember, they are as good as cash!


When you charge your card
* Check the details on the charge-slip before signing.
* Keep your charge-slips to reconcile with your credit card statement as soon as you receive it. If you normally throw your slips away after this, destroy them instead.
* Keep close watch on your card during a transaction and request for it to be returned to you quickly.
* Cross out incorrect receipts to invalidate them, and destroy carbons of transactions.
* Never input your credit card information in a website that is not a secured [https:] site.
* Don't sign a blank receipt. When signing a receipt, draw a line across the blank spaces above and below the total amount indicated to prevent unauthorised additions.

When you receive your statements
* Check the statement promptly and reconcile your transactions.
* Keep the telephone number of your credit card issuer so that you can immediately report the loss of your cards, suspicious transactions or any suspect of PIN information known to a third party. Prompt notification to your bank will enable quicker investigations into any case.
* Notify your card issuer of changes in address or contact numbers - this is to allow the bank to contact you promptly for verification of transactions.

Social Engineering
Tricksters are coming up with new and innovative phone scams to convince victims to part with their money. Some of the ruses used include:

* Kidnap Scam
o Tricksters would claim that the victim's loved one had been kidnapped and demand that a ransom be transferred to a specific bank account. These fake threats are usually accompanied by sounds of cries for help in the background. If you receive such calls, remain calm and try to contact your loved ones immediately. Seek assistance from the police if you cannot contact them.

* Lottery Scam
o Tricksters make calls from overseas, send email or SMS to victims, informing them that they have won prizes in a foreign or domestic lottery. The tricksters would request for an advance payment in order to process the claims for these prizes. A widely publicised domestic scam was the Astro Akademi Fantasia scam. If you receive such calls, ignore them. Do not make any advance payments.

* Impersonation Scam
o Tricksters would impersonate law enforcement, regulatory [BNM] or Association [VISA or MasterCard] officials, advising victims to remit or transfer money to designated bank accounts in order to exonerate themselves from alleged crimes. The common allegations include failure to appear in court in relation to one's involvement in money laundering and unlicensed money lending cases or involvement in credit card fraud.
o Police officers, Court officials, and other government officials do not require any individuals connected to a criminal case to transfer money to any bank account. If any payment is to be made, an official written notice and receipt would be issued.

* What You Should Do
o If you encounter any of the above scams, you should never reveal your personal information, bank account number or credit card details over the phone. Never send money to unknown callers.

In this regard, please stay alert and vigilant always.