Payment card fraud

Although card payment security continues to improve, some measures are still necessary to avoid fraud.

Fraudsters can copy the card’s magnetic stripe. They can then use it for fraudulent transactions in countries and territories where chip card technology is not available. This is known as skimming and can be done in the following situations:

• when paying in a shop, somebody might take your debit card and pretend they’re looking for the terminal somewhere out of your sight. This could give them the opportunity to copy the magnetic stripe
  
• an electronic device can be placed on the POS terminal or on the ATM

The fraudster may try to obtain debit card details, such as card numbers and expiry dates. They can use this information to make fraudulent transactions, even if the account owner still has their card.

This could happen in shops or with online purchases, where the user gives their credentials by phone or online.

• never give your confidential code to anyone
• learn it by heart - don’t write it down
• if you forget it, ask us to reissue it 
• always closely guard your card's security code

• immediately write your signature on the back of your new card
• always keep it in a safe place
• never give it to anyone else, even a close relative. If someone else uses your card without your knowledge and they know your confidential code, you can be held responsible

• don’t use an ATM if it looks suspicious, especially where the card is inserted or on the keypad where you enter your code. Report it to your bank
• don’t get distracted by strangers when you’re withdrawing money or making a payment
• if the ATM swallows your card, try to retrieve it at your branch or immediately block it

• check that the merchant website is safe. The “https” should always appear in the address, and a green coloured padlock must be near the address bar
• some e-commerce merchants use 3D Secure as an additional layer of security. This makes online shopping transactions safer by authenticating the card holder’s identity at the time of purchase
• if you get a code sent to your phone to confirm a transaction you did not make, contact your bank immediately to block your card
• never reply to an email asking you to give your banking details, even if it seems genuine. It could be phishing

• regularly check your bank accounts for anything unusual
• write down your card number and its expiry date and keep this information in a safe place should you have to block it
• immediately call the debit card emergency line to report a lost or stolen card