Credit Card Safety Tips

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Having a credit card makes life easier in many ways because you don't need to carry cash or worry about missing out on deals when you're short on money. Whether you're shopping online or in a store, there are things you can do to protect your credit card from unauthorised use.

Safeguard your credit card against fraud

• Place your signature on your credit card immediately once you have received it.
• Make sure that your credit card is always kept safe with you. Immediately contact Maybank Group Customer Care to report it if it's lost or stolen.
• Do not lend your credit card to anyone.
• Do not disclose your credit card details to anyone.
• Do not keep your PIN along with your card or disclose it to anyone.
• Keep our Maybank Group Customer Care telephone number handy in case of lost/stolen cards, unauthorised transactions or PIN disclosures.
• Cut your expired credit cards into two when you receive your new cards.

Checking your credit card transactions

• Check all details on the transaction slip before signing or confirming the transaction.
• Keep the transaction slips and verify them against your credit card statement when it arrives.
• Notify Maybank Group Customer Care immediately of any error or possible unauthorised transactions.
• Destroy all your duplicate transaction slips or the ones that you don’t need before discarding them.

Are contactless transactions secure?

Are contactless payments safe?

How safe are mobile payments?

Do's

1. Receiving New/Renewed/Replaced Card

• When you receive your new/renewed/replaced credit card, always check that the sealed package is not tampered with and that the card is in your name. In the event the sealed package containing your new/renewed/replacement credit card is compromised or does not belong to you, please contact Maybank Group Customer Care immediately.
• Once you confirm the credit card is yours, please destroy your old/expired/unusable card immediately by cutting it into several pieces to ensure that the chip and magnetic stripe is completely damaged.
• Immediately sign on the signature panel at the back of your card upon received.

2. Using Your Card at Retail Outlets

• Treat, value and protect your card as if it were cash. Keep your card in a secure place or ensure that it is in your possession at all times.
• Check and ensure that the correct card is returned to you after any purchases.
  • Ensure that all transactions are made/authorised by you (face-to-face, by phone/on the internet).
• Ensure the transaction slip is correct before you proceed to sign it.

3. Online Usage

• Sign up for Maybank Secure Online Shopping (MSOS) to ensure the protection and safety of your online transactions.
• When purchasing items over the Internet, give your credit card details only to reliable websites or to a company you trust. Reputable merchant sites use encryption technologies to protect your card information.
• Please avoid using a public computer to shop online. If you do, please remember to log off and quit the browser when you are finished. This is to avoid someone hitting the "back button" to view your personal information.
• Make sure that you have checked the policies on payment, refunds, returns and shipping before completing an online purchase.
• Always print and save the confirmation page when completing an online purchases. Record and keep your receipts for all your purchases including online purchases.

4. Managing & Filing Your Statement

• Keep your mailbox locked, pick up your mail right away and stay alert for any signs of identity theft. Contact the bank immediately if you don't get your credit card statements on time.
• Shred all documents (transaction slips, statements, etc. that contain card details before you discard them.
• Make sure to check your credit card statement and report it immediately if you see any unrecognised or unauthorised charges.

5. If Card Is Lost / Stolen

• Keep the Bank hotline number readily available with you to immediately report any lost or stolen credit card. Always report to your Bank if your card is lost or stolen, and always check your credit cards periodically to ensure that they are not missing from your wallet.

6. Change of Address / Contact Number / Email Address

• Notify the Bank in advance of your latest mailing address, mobile number and e-mail address to allow the Bank to perform verification of unusual or suspicious transactions.

7. Beware Of Scam

• Be wary of sales gimmicks and tactics that ask for your card details, e.g., "SCRATCH & WIN" contests or contests sent via SMS.
• If you receive a call from a Telemarketer, ask questions. The fewer questions the caller can answer, the more likely it is that they are calling from an illegitimate business.
• Do not provide your credit card number over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
• Ensure the calls are made to a reliable and trusted company.

8. Secure your devices and networks

When securing your digital information, there are a few best practises to follow:

• Make sure your computer is equipped with a firewall. Be sure to change the password and keep the firewall turned on to protect your computer from external attacks.
• Download and install updates to your operating system, software and browser when prompted. These updates tend to include the most up-to-date security features to secure your computer and the information stored on it.
• Install security software to protect your computer. The two most common types are antivirus, which guards against malicious code, and anti-spyware, which prevents activity monitoring. Even if you already have security software, refrain from downloading programs or files from unknown sources.
• Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks when performing banking related transactions. Consider using your mobile phone's data network or trusted private networks to access banking’s services instead.

Don’ts

1. Safeguarding Your Card

• Never leave your credit card in an unsecured place, whether it's lying around at home or in the office, where someone could gain access to it. If you don't intend to use your card, keep it in a safe and secure location.
• Don't leave your credit card in the glove compartment of your car.
• Never sign a blank sales receipt. When signing a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
• Do not lend your card to anyone. Your card is not transferable.

2. Safeguarding Your Pin and Personal Information

• When creating passwords and PINs, avoid using anything easily associated with yourself, such as your date of birth, identity card number and so on.
• Do not record such information on anything in your wallet.
• Change passwords periodically and pick different ones for every account—don’t use the same password for your bank account and retail sites.
• Do not carry your PIN with your card or disclose it to anyone.
• Never send an account information, such as account number or PIN, in an -email, as it may be intercepted.
• Do not reveal personal details or your card details to any unknown party.
• Beware of scammers who claim to be from the Bank and ask to "verify" your account details (via call/email). The Bank already has your details and does not require them from you.
• If you are unsure, please contact the Bank for further confirmation/ clarification.

3. Online Usage

• Never provide your credit card information on any website that is not a secure site.
• Never provide your card information online unless you are making a purchase.
• Never respond to e-mails that request your credit card information or that ask you to go to a website to verify personal and/or credit card information.
• Be cautious about e-mails that offer credit services. Many unsolicited e-mails are fraudulent.
• Never click on Internet links within e-mails. Instead, type the known URL in the browser, e.g., www.maybank2u.com.my

Got a questionable transaction on your statement?
To facilitate transaction queries or disputes, print out the Dispute Form (PDF) and fill it in with the required information.
Attach copies of the relevant documents or Sales Drafts and email them to us at disputemgmt@maybank.com.my or mail it to us at:

Maybank Credit Card Centre
c/o Customer Service
7th Floor, Menara Maybank

The Internet has evolved into a vast marketplace for global goods and services. In order for e-commerce to thrive, users must feel secure when transmitting card and other financial information. As data travels across the network, it passes through multiple computers, creating opportunities for the interception of confidential information. Additionally, hackers may breach computers to steal stored data.

How might this affect you? Let's say you want to purchase merchandise from an online store. When you provide your card number, how can you be certain it will travel safely from your computer to its final destination? Given the vast potential for conducting online business, significant time and resources are dedicated to ensuring the security of Internet transactions.

This is done using a technology called authentication, specifically 3-D Secure. MSOS (Maybank Card's Secure Online Shopping) is a specification created by Visa and MasterCard to make online transactions faster and promote e-commerce. The 3-D Secure protocol is a technical platform that sets requirements for banks, payment processors, and online stores. It allows online stores to verify that you are a legitimate cardholder when making a purchase. With MSOS, you must enter a special code in a separate window before the transaction is authorised. By using this code, you can be confident that your card information is secure and not accessible to anyone else. You need to enter your code or password in the Maybank Secure Authentication Window before your online purchase can be approved.

All online financial transactions should be conducted securely. Many online stores have what is called a secure page, which may be indicated by a notice posted on the site. Alternatively, you may see a small Secure Authentication Window (Secure Code or Verified by Visa), indicating that the site utilises security technology.

If you are still uncomfortable sending sensitive information, many sites provide a phone number you can call to provide your credit card number.

Identity theft is often in the news, but there are a lot of misconceptions swirling around about how to best protect yourself.

While some identity thieves may target your credit cards and max them out before you even realise they're missing, an increasing number are using a single piece of information, such as a credit card number, to steal your entire identity.

While many people are concerned about keeping their credit card information secure while shopping online, it is important to note that the top methods used by identity thieves to steal personal data are still low-tech. Be vigilant in safeguarding your personal documents, exercise caution when sharing your data over the phone, and be mindful of the risk of mail theft.

No one is immune to identity theft, but armed with a little knowledge about how identity thieves operate and a little common sense, you can stay one step ahead of them.

Thieves don't need your credit card number in order to steal it

Conversely, they don't need your credit card to steal your identity. Identity thieves are crafty; sometimes all they need is one piece of information about you, and they can easily gain access to the rest. As a result, it's crucial to lock up important documents at home. Secure birth certificates, MyKad and passports in a safe deposit box or in a safe hidden at home. And that includes credit cards when not in use.

The non-financial personal information you reveal online is often enough for a thief

Beware of seemingly innocent personal facts that a thief could use to steal your identity. For example, never list your full birth date on Facebook or any other social networking site. And don't list your home address or telephone number on any Web site you use for personal or business reasons, including job-search sites.

Be careful with your snail mail

Follow your billing cycles closely. If a credit card or other bill hasn't arrived, it may mean that an identity thief has gotten hold of your account and changed your billing address. Never place outgoing mail in your post office box or door slot for a carrier to pick up. Anyone can grab it and get your credit card numbers and other financial information. Bring it to the post office yourself.

Review all bank and credit card statements each month, preferably once a week

Watch out for charges of less than RM1 or RM2 from unfamiliar companies or individuals. Identity thieves often test stolen credit card numbers by making small charges, sometimes just a few cents, to check if the card is active. If these charges go unnoticed, they will proceed to make larger unauthorised transactions. They rely on the fact that most people don't notice such small charges. Additionally, many fraud alerts set on your accounts may not detect these small amounts. While reviewing your credit report regularly is a good idea, by the time a fraudulent transaction appears on it, it's usually too late.

If an ATM or store terminal looks funny, don't use it.

Make sure there is no device attached to any ATM card slot you use.

Generally, the mouth of a card receptacle on an ATM should be flush with the machine or have only a very slight lip. If it looks or feels different when you swipe your card or has an extra piece of plastic sticking out from the card slot, it may be a skimmer, an electronic device placed there by thieves that captures your credit card information when you swipe it. If you notice it after you've already inserted your card, you should alert your bank so they can watch for any fraudulent charges to your account.

Identity thieves love travellers and tourists

Travellers should be alert to strangers hovering around whenever they use a credit card at an ATM or phone, and they should avoid public wireless Internet connections unless their laptop or PDA has beefed-up security protection.

Pay attention at the checkout line

Be cautious if a cashier or salesperson takes your card and acts suspiciously, like turning away or taking too long for a regular transaction. They might be using a device to steal your card information. They can scan your card with a handheld device or take photos of it using a cell phone. They may even swap your card with a similar-looking one. Always check your card when it's returned and make sure it's yours. Sometimes, they can swap your card without you noticing, and it might take days for you to realise.

Go paperless in as many ways as possible

Cut back on the mail you receive from banks and financial institutions by discontinuing paper bills and statements. Access your financial statements at www.maybank2u.com.my instead. This strategy has the bonus of an environmental benefit. Similarly, we recommend that whatever paper receipts and financial statements you do receive go through the shredder instead of into the wastebasket. Never throw away a credit card slip. Instead, shred anything that has any number, name or address on it.

The online shopping guarantee is given to American Express customers

With the American Express Online Fraud Protection Guarantee, purchasing online with your American Express Card will be a worry-free experience. If you notice any fraudulent transactions on your bill, notify us immediately and you won't be held responsible for the unauthorised charges*.

So shop online with confidence using your American Express Card. We'll stand behind your online purchases just as we do when you purchase items in person or over the phone.

*Subject to the Card Conditions. "Immediately" means as soon as you are aware but no later than on or before the payment due date of the statement in which the fraudulent transaction appears.

Tips for online businesses with credit card facilities to prevent credit card fraud

Whatever the size or nature of your business, cases of fraud do happen. Fraudulent behaviour online can take various forms, ranging from stolen credit card details to system hacking. The key is to keep your site up-to-date with the best security practises. Here are some steps you can take to minimise fraud:

Web site security

Make sure your web site is equipped with security facilities like SSL, encryption and a firewall. This can ensure that your database (especially sensitive sales information) and transmissions are safe from being accessed by outsiders.

Order details

Convince your customers to provide adequate information upon ordering, especially contact information. Make sure that the customer is a legitimate cardholder. More attention is required for suspicious orders (like remote delivery addresses or simultaneous orders).

Free-mail addresses

Some fraudsters attempt to mask their identity by using a free-mail address. While most users of free-mail addresses are indeed legitimate, caution should be exercised for orders with free-mail addresses, especially when this is the only way to contact the customers.

Out-of-norm orders

Be wary of orders that fall outside usual ordering patterns, like bulk orders or purchases that greatly exceed the average transaction amount.

IP records

Take caution if orders are made from odd locations (which are sometimes traceable with the IP addresses), especially where credit card fraud is more common.

Proof of delivery

Get a signed proof of delivery or receipt, if available upon retrieval request.

Returns

It is also advisable to devise and maintain clear, easy-to-understand and consistent product return policies to keep customers well-informed.

Immediately call Maybank's 24/7 Fraud Hotline at 03-5891 4744 or the National Scam Response Centre at 997.