JAKARTA — Mobile banking, or m-banking, has made financial transactions increasingly convenient for the public. However, this convenience also comes with growing risks of digital crime that can threaten the security of customers’ bank accounts.
Criminals can use various methods to steal personal information and banking data. Therefore, customers need to remain vigilant when conducting transactions through digital banking services.
There are several simple steps that can be taken to prevent the misuse of bank accounts and personal banking data.
11 Tips to Avoid Digital Banking Crime
Here are several steps customers can take to keep their digital banking transactions secure:
- Never share your access code or Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone.
- Do not write down or store your access code or SMS banking personal number in places that can easily be accessed or discovered by others.
- Carefully check all transaction details before confirming a transaction.
- After making a transaction, wait for a moment until you receive a response or notification confirming that the transaction has been successfully processed.
- Check every transaction notification received via SMS or email. If you find a suspicious transaction or one that you did not make, immediately contact your bank through its official channels.
- If you believe that your PIN or other banking security information has been exposed to someone else, change your PIN immediately.
- If your SIM card is lost, stolen or transferred to another person, immediately report it to the nearest bank branch or contact the bank’s official call center.
- Be careful when downloading or using applications from the internet. Applications containing spam or malware may steal personal data and misuse it.
- Avoid conducting internet banking transactions in public places, such as internet cafés, or through free public Wi-Fi. Personal data could potentially be intercepted by other parties on the same network.
- Always log out after completing an internet banking session, especially when using a device that does not belong to you.
- If you change your mobile phone, make sure all data from the old device has been deleted. This is important to prevent your personal information from being misused by anyone who later uses the device.
Do Not Ignore Suspicious Transactions
The security of digital banking does not depend solely on the bank’s systems. Customers also play an important role by protecting their personal data and the devices they use for financial transactions.
Customers should never share their PIN, access codes or confidential banking information with anyone. Any suspicious message, link, application or request for personal information should also be verified through the bank’s official channels.
If you discover an unauthorized transaction, contact your bank immediately and take the necessary security measures to minimize potential losses.
Vigilance is increasingly important as digital crime continues to evolve. By protecting confidential information, carefully checking every transaction and promptly reporting suspicious activity, customers can reduce the risk of their bank accounts and personal data being misused.
