Never leave bank cards with strangers

THIS article is a continuation from the previous publication and is meant to provide further insight into identity theft. In the previous article I indicated that with the increasing cyberspace landscape, ‘ identity theft’ is becoming one of the major and fast emerging threats of cyber criminology.

Identity theft is a crime which thrives on stealing or obtaining one’s personal information which is then used for fraudulent transactions made in the name of the victim such as opening of new accounts in the name of victim, making fraudulent withdrawals, obtaining credit in the name of the victim and bills for products or services one did not purchase amongst other fraudulent transactions.

Identity theft criminals steal or obtain personal information in one of the following ways; theft, robbery, work or home computer hacking, mobile phone hacking, card cloning at bank ATMs, lost personally identity particulars and documents, victim’s acquaintances, friends, relatives, domestic employees, sour relationships, amongst others.

If personal information or data can be obtained in such several of ways, as a Fraud prevention practitioner, I suppose more serious attention should be given to protection of personal and sensitive information.

Currently, Covid- 19 lockdown is paying off huge for many identity theft fraudsters as people wilfully offer themselves for slaughter. During lockdown it appears many people lost their sense of responsibility to protect their personal information.

This is what I observed, and even now, this illegal and dangerous practice is still happening: ‘Bank Cards and PINs are given to and left in custody of strangers for a day to three days or more to facilitate for swipe transactions in exchange for US dollars. This practice is rampant at the month end when a bulky of employees, especially Civil servants and City council workers gets their salaries. This is a timebomb and there will be a loud outcry.

As noted previously, that according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), credit card fraud topped the list of identity theft reports in 2018, identity theft through mobile hacking will soon top the reports. On 21 August 2021 and 28 August 2021 I wrote articles titled “Beware of WhatsApp hacking and WhatsApp users must take total control of their cellphones” respectively.

The thrust of the articles was to warn the public on Whatsapp scams. WhatsApp hacking is a new form of identity theft.

In order to avoid or minimize chances of falling prey to Identity theft scams consider the following measures;

◆ Take personal responsibility to protect your own personal information by preventing unauthorized access to privileged or personal information. In other words provide water tight security around your personal information.

◆ Regularly change your bank account PIN. If you know that the security of your bank card was once compromised, swiftly change your PIN. ◆ Regularly change your computer and cellphone passwords; preferably use long and not easy to guess passwords. ◆ Do not share your password or PIN to

avoid unauthorized access.

◆ Double your login password.

◆ If you lose your personal details through acts of theft, robbery, or accidental loss, quickly report to the police, and advise your cellular service provider and your bank.

◆ Do not quickly respond to Whatsapp messages that purport to have been sent by a well-known member of a Whatsapp Group offering US dollars at a lower rates, your member might have been hacked.

◆ Avoid following links and login to unfamiliar websites; you may end up being hacked.

Get empowered by Fraud Insight and be part of a solution to fraud scams. Watch out for the next issue on Identity theft that will look at and provide various possible measures that one can take to protect self from Identity theft scams.

For your feedback, WhatsApp line: 0772 764 043, or e- mail: teezmuleya@gmail.com. Tom Muleya is a Detective Assistant Inspector working under the Criminal Investigations Department in Harare.