/ 14 April 2011

Beware the ‘vishing’ fraudster

Smart Money has looked at tips on cellphone banking safety before (a href=http://mg.co.za/article/2010-10-01-how-safe-is-cellphone-banking target=”_blank”>How safe is cellphone banking), but here’s a new tip.

We know about phishing and smishing, but what about vishing? This is when a fraudster sends you an SMS stating that a bank official will contact you to verify or update your details. The fraudster will then call you claiming to be a bank official.
Obviously, you shouldn’t stay on the line — hang up and contact your bank immediately. Never divulge any information over the phone — the bank will never contact you to verify information.

Remember to update your cellphone number and cellphone banking profile regularly at your nearest bank’s branch, or through a cellphone banking help desk. You’ll need to go through a verification process before your details can be updated, but this is for your own protection.

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