STRATEGIC PARTNERS
May 11, 2003
GAUTENG, South Africa -- While Canada, the U.S. and other countries try to cope with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes perpetrated by criminals using skimming devices at ATMs, some South African pensioners have become victims of a decidely low-tech scam.
According to a report in The Star, fraudsters posing as bank employees are targeting pensioners at Nedbankbranches in the Gauteng area.
Kathleen Alves, a Nedbank spokesperson, told the Star that recent reports indicated that several pensioners had been approached by fraudsters claiming to be bank employees offering them entry into a contest.
If an intended victim expresses interest, the fraudster then pushes them to divulge their PIN. "What's alarming," said Nick Jacobs, head of Nedbank's forensic protection services, "is that some individuals actually disclose PIN details. This is tantamount to giving someone permission to raid your bank account."
Once criminals obtain a PIN, the pensioner is asked to show an ATM card, giving the criminal an opportunity to swap cards. Armed with both card and PIN, the criminal can then withdraw cash from the pensioner's account.
Nedbank is urging its customers not to share their PINs with anyone, and also to report any suspicious activity.
