Bank Account Drained? Beware New Mobile Banking Theft Tactics
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Savings accumulated over many years can disappear as a result of digital fraud. One threat to watch for is crime targeting mobile banking (m-banking) users, with perpetrators using various methods to gain access to victims’ accounts.
Criminal tactics targeting m-banking users vary, from stealing personal data and distributing malicious applications to phishing — using fake links and messages to obtain customers’ confidential information.
The public should therefore be more vigilant when using digital banking services to avoid having their accounts compromised.
According to the Financial Services Authority’s (OJK) official website, customers can take the following steps to guard against digital banking crime.
11 tips to prevent mobile banking account breaches
Never share your access code or personal identification number (PIN) with anyone, including someone claiming to be a bank employee.
Avoid writing down or storing your PIN or SMS banking access code somewhere that others can easily find or discover.
Carefully check transaction details before approving or confirming a payment.
After making a transaction, wait for the system to respond or notify you of its status.
Pay attention to transaction notifications sent by SMS or email. Check the details and contact your bank immediately if you spot unfamiliar or suspicious activity.
Change your PIN immediately if you believe it has become known to, or could be accessed by, someone else.
If your SIM card is lost, stolen or transferred to someone else, report it promptly to a bank branch or the bank’s official customer service to prevent misuse.
Be wary of internet applications and links that contain spam or malware. Such malicious programmes can be used to obtain and misuse personal data.
As far as possible, avoid banking transactions over public internet connections, such as free Wi-Fi or computers in public places. Using an insecure network can increase the risk of data theft.
Always log out of internet banking after completing a transaction, especially when using a device that other people can access.
Before replacing or selling your phone, make sure all personal data and banking information have been deleted from the old device so they cannot be misused by its next owner.