Dodgy debit orders

I RECENTLY walked into my bank in a state of panic; someone had somehow hacked into my account and set up a R99 debit order.

Fortunately, a consultant told me what to do to reverse the debit order, and just like that, the reversal was done. Though relieved that it was reversible, I was shocked when she told me all the major banks in South Africa are aware of this scam and many people are victims of it.

What concerns me is that while my bank (FNB) is usually diligent about warning me of scams such as phishing, not once had I been warned about this.

I went to Capitec to make sure this was not just an FNB thing, and it’s not. I was assured the banks are aware and working on a system whereby clients must approve all debit orders with the bank before they are authorised.

But for now, I’m writing this letter to warn South Africans to check their statements regularly and make sure debit orders are valid.

These perpetrators are smart enough to deduct multiple small amounts that won’t trigger notifications, and they choose dates when most of your debit orders normally go off, so it’s easy to miss the scam.

Although it’s good to know these unauthorised debit orders are easily reversible, I worry about elderly people in rural areas who don’t check their statements, and yet have been convinced that placing their money in the banks is safer than under the mattress.

How will they know someone has a hand in their pockets?

Ikho Poswayo Muizenberg