What information about your card is needed by intruders?
They need your card details: card number, first and last name of the owner, expiration date, card authentication code (three digits on the back, for example, CVV or CVC), PIN code. Also, the code from the SMS for confirming payments and transfers on those sites where payments need to be confirmed using such a code.
Location: shop or cafe
1. You pay with a regular bank card
The attacker may be an employee of the trade and services sector. A waiter, cashier or seller, accepting your bank card for payment, can take a picture of the necessary data (card number, expiration date, owner's name and code on the reverse side), and then pay it online.
How to prevent it?
When paying, try not to lose sight of your card. And enter the PIN code so that it is not visible to outsiders.
2. You pay through the terminal, but the payment does not go through
In the cafe, the waiter brings you a POS terminal (in the picture), you pay, but then the waiter says that the payment did not pass, and asks you to re-enter the PIN code. By doing this, you risk paying twice.
How to prevent it?
Connect SMS notifications about payments. Be sure to ask for a receipt with a notification of a failure or refusal of the operation (the POS terminal always prints one).
3. You pay with a card with a contactless payment system
Cards with a contactless payment system can be paid instantly, in one touch, if your payment does not exceed a certain limit. The PIN code does not need to be entered. Attackers can steal money from such a card by leaning a reader or POS terminal against a bag.
How to prevent it?
To prevent contactless payment from taking place without your knowledge, it is better to store the card in the shielding compartment of a wallet, bag or a special case for bank cards.
Location: ATM
The most common way to steal card details (number, name and surname of the owner, expiration date) when using it at an ATM is to install a skimmer on the ATM. This is a special device that copies data from the magnetic stripe of the card. They can also steal a PIN code by installing a hidden camera or an overhead keyboard on an ATM. A fake keyboard is placed right on top of the original one, and the ATM itself reacts to clicks as usual — you won't even notice that something is going wrong. Attackers, using stolen data, can make a copy of your card.
How to prevent it?
The skimmer is able to steal information only from the magnetic strip, but not from a special chip.
Location: anywhere
1. You have received an alarming SMS message or a call from a relative
A relative writes or calls you from an unfamiliar number and says that he is in trouble and urgently needs money, but he does not have time to explain the situation. In such messages, the urgency of the situation is often manipulated, and they are sent at an extremely inconvenient time, for example, at night.
How to prevent it?
Do not rush to transfer money. Try to find out the details — usually long conversations are not part of the attackers' plans. If you haven't been able to find out anything really, call back the relative on whose behalf they are contacting to make sure if he is calling /writing to you.
2. You have received a message "from the bank"
An SMS message comes from an unknown number that your card is blocked. The SMS contains the number you need to call to clarify the details. By calling, you will get into the fake security service of the bank, where you will be persuaded to provide card details or go to the nearest ATM and perform operations. Following the instructions of the attackers, you will give them access to the card and they will steal your money.
How to prevent it?
Do not call back — first find out if your bank really called. Real banks usually send notifications from the same number. In addition, your card has a phone number for contacting the bank — call it and check if it is blocked. Or contact the staff of the nearest bank branch.
3. You get a call from a government agency
People call you and introduce themselves as employees of the bank, the prosecutor's Office, the court, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and other institutions. They report, for example, about the required compensation for damage from the actions of fraudsters: compensation for purchased medical goods or services of psychics. If, in order to receive the promised compensation, an "employee" asks you to pay something (income tax, income tax, bank fee, compulsory insurance, state duty, money transfer fee), and even more so asks you to provide passport data or bank details, this is a telephone fraudster.
How to prevent it?
Do not follow the instructions and do not pay for anything. Do not provide personal information, real employees already have it.
Place of action: house
1. You have received an email or notification
You will receive a notification by mail on a form with bank details. It says that the court has decided to pay you compensation, for this you need to contact the contact person. And as soon as possible, otherwise the compensation will go to the benefit of the state — this is how the attackers are pushing you to act.
How to prevent it?
Do not rush to contact the contact person indicated in the letter, check the data. Call the phone number for requests listed on the official website of the bank. If the letter turned out to be fake, file a complaint with law enforcement agencies.
Protect yourself from scammers:
What should I do if you are still faced with fraud?
If money is suddenly debited from your bank card:
Compensation
After receiving your application, the bank will conduct an internal investigation and resolve the issue of compensation for damages. If you followed the security measures and contacted the bank no later than the next day after it notified you of the illegal transaction, you can count on a refund. However, if you yourself informed the attackers of the PIN code or SMS code required to confirm payments and transfers, unfortunately, the bank will not refund your money.
They need your card details: card number, first and last name of the owner, expiration date, card authentication code (three digits on the back, for example, CVV or CVC), PIN code. Also, the code from the SMS for confirming payments and transfers on those sites where payments need to be confirmed using such a code.
1. You pay with a regular bank card
The attacker may be an employee of the trade and services sector. A waiter, cashier or seller, accepting your bank card for payment, can take a picture of the necessary data (card number, expiration date, owner's name and code on the reverse side), and then pay it online.
How to prevent it?
When paying, try not to lose sight of your card. And enter the PIN code so that it is not visible to outsiders.
2. You pay through the terminal, but the payment does not go through
In the cafe, the waiter brings you a POS terminal (in the picture), you pay, but then the waiter says that the payment did not pass, and asks you to re-enter the PIN code. By doing this, you risk paying twice.
How to prevent it?
Connect SMS notifications about payments. Be sure to ask for a receipt with a notification of a failure or refusal of the operation (the POS terminal always prints one).
3. You pay with a card with a contactless payment system
Cards with a contactless payment system can be paid instantly, in one touch, if your payment does not exceed a certain limit. The PIN code does not need to be entered. Attackers can steal money from such a card by leaning a reader or POS terminal against a bag.
How to prevent it?
To prevent contactless payment from taking place without your knowledge, it is better to store the card in the shielding compartment of a wallet, bag or a special case for bank cards.
Location: ATM
The most common way to steal card details (number, name and surname of the owner, expiration date) when using it at an ATM is to install a skimmer on the ATM. This is a special device that copies data from the magnetic stripe of the card. They can also steal a PIN code by installing a hidden camera or an overhead keyboard on an ATM. A fake keyboard is placed right on top of the original one, and the ATM itself reacts to clicks as usual — you won't even notice that something is going wrong. Attackers, using stolen data, can make a copy of your card.
How to prevent it?
The skimmer is able to steal information only from the magnetic strip, but not from a special chip.
- Check the ATM: there are no foreign devices on it. The keyboard should not differ in texture, much less wobble.
- When you enter the PIN code, always cover the keyboard with your free hand so that no one spies.
- Try to use ATMs inside bank branches. They are checked more often and better guarded.
Location: anywhere
1. You have received an alarming SMS message or a call from a relative
A relative writes or calls you from an unfamiliar number and says that he is in trouble and urgently needs money, but he does not have time to explain the situation. In such messages, the urgency of the situation is often manipulated, and they are sent at an extremely inconvenient time, for example, at night.
How to prevent it?
Do not rush to transfer money. Try to find out the details — usually long conversations are not part of the attackers' plans. If you haven't been able to find out anything really, call back the relative on whose behalf they are contacting to make sure if he is calling /writing to you.
2. You have received a message "from the bank"
An SMS message comes from an unknown number that your card is blocked. The SMS contains the number you need to call to clarify the details. By calling, you will get into the fake security service of the bank, where you will be persuaded to provide card details or go to the nearest ATM and perform operations. Following the instructions of the attackers, you will give them access to the card and they will steal your money.
How to prevent it?
Do not call back — first find out if your bank really called. Real banks usually send notifications from the same number. In addition, your card has a phone number for contacting the bank — call it and check if it is blocked. Or contact the staff of the nearest bank branch.
3. You get a call from a government agency
People call you and introduce themselves as employees of the bank, the prosecutor's Office, the court, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and other institutions. They report, for example, about the required compensation for damage from the actions of fraudsters: compensation for purchased medical goods or services of psychics. If, in order to receive the promised compensation, an "employee" asks you to pay something (income tax, income tax, bank fee, compulsory insurance, state duty, money transfer fee), and even more so asks you to provide passport data or bank details, this is a telephone fraudster.
How to prevent it?
Do not follow the instructions and do not pay for anything. Do not provide personal information, real employees already have it.
Place of action: house
1. You have received an email or notification
You will receive a notification by mail on a form with bank details. It says that the court has decided to pay you compensation, for this you need to contact the contact person. And as soon as possible, otherwise the compensation will go to the benefit of the state — this is how the attackers are pushing you to act.
How to prevent it?
Do not rush to contact the contact person indicated in the letter, check the data. Call the phone number for requests listed on the official website of the bank. If the letter turned out to be fake, file a complaint with law enforcement agencies.
Protect yourself from scammers:
- Connect a mobile bank to track transactions that you have not made. This way you will be able to quickly respond to the actions of scammers — and time is very important in this case.
- Do not store large amounts of money on a card that you carry with you and use for everyday spending.
- If you plan to use the card not only in the country in which you live, be sure to inform the bank's employees about it.
- Tell elderly relatives about the tricks of scammers — they are the ones who most often become the target of intruders.
What should I do if you are still faced with fraud?
If money is suddenly debited from your bank card:
- Call the bank as soon as possible (the number is on the back of the card), report the fraudulent transaction and block the card.
- Contact the bank branch and ask for an account statement. Write a statement of disagreement with the operation. Save a copy of the application with the bank's acceptance mark.
- Contact law enforcement agencies with a statement about theft.
Compensation
After receiving your application, the bank will conduct an internal investigation and resolve the issue of compensation for damages. If you followed the security measures and contacted the bank no later than the next day after it notified you of the illegal transaction, you can count on a refund. However, if you yourself informed the attackers of the PIN code or SMS code required to confirm payments and transfers, unfortunately, the bank will not refund your money.