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+2673159575 (Contact centre)
0800 600 444 (BTC Toll Free)
150 (Mascom Toll Free)
Email us:
Botswana.CustomerService@absa.africa
Fraud alert
Top 6 security tips:
1. Be alert and extremely vigilant of any unsolicited phone calls, text messages and emails from fraudsters.
2. Never give away your personal and security information unless you are sure that it is safe.
3. Never disclose your passwords and PINs to anybody.
4. Never disclose your banking details. Fraudsters can lure people into giving these details - don't let them in.
5. Never assume a caller is genuine because he/she knows your banking details. Fraudsters could have basic
information about you, such as your address, bank account number and details of recent transactions.
6. Keep your computer's anti-virus software up to date.
Always remember:
1. Absa will never call to ask for your personal identification number (PIN) or your online banking password.
2. Absa will never ask you to check if the number on your phone display matches its registered number.
Be cautious, fraudsters might alter the number shown on the phone.
3. Absa will never tell you to transfer money to another account.
Here are more fraud alert and safety tips for you to explore.
Follow these guidelines so that you can bank safely everytime.
Remember "SCAM" stands for:
- S - Shield your personal information, whether it is printed information or entering your PIN.
- C - Check your financial information regularly and report anything suspicious to us as soon as you can.
- A - Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report.
- M - Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts and reconcile them frequently.
If you see or experience anything suspicious contact us.
"Skimming" is where criminals use devices to collect and store information from a debit or credit card in the course of the transaction.
They later use the details fraudulently.
Skimming can happen anywhere you use your credit or debit card. Fraudsters collect and store information during a transaction. Skimming can also happen at locations like restaurants where portable units are used to skim your credit card or debit card information when you pay.
What to do to protect yourself from skimming.
- Check for any unusual objects not normally found on ATM, e.g. check the card slot of the ATM to ensure that there are no unusual objects covering it.
- Check that the ATM keypad is smooth and numbers are not unusually raised up or tampered with.
- Any cameras around the lighting area of the ATM mainly facing the keypad must be treated as suspicious.
- At shops and other pay points: NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR CARD.
Identity theft and identity fraud are crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data for financial gain.
Here's how you can protect yourself:
- Make sure that no-one is looking over your shoulder at an ATM or a point of sale.
- Always shield your PIN when entering it.
- Keep information secure.
- Shred paper-based information when you don't need it any more.
- Never use a public computer (e.g. internet café) to carry out internet banking.
- Don't disclose your banking details in an email or the post.
- Always keep information about you secure! Fraudsters can obtain and use your personal data unlawfully.
Details on what to do and what not to do with your credit or debit card to avoid being a victim of fraud.
WHAT TO DO:
- Keep your card in a secure place
- Memorise your PIN
- Shield your PIN from others when entering it
- Sign card on the signature panel
- Treat your card as cash
- Ensure that you get your own card back after every purchase.
WHAT NOT TO:
- DO NOT share your PIN
- DO NOT keep your PIN in your wallet, mobile phone or any place that another person can access.
- DO NOT let others see your PIN.
- DO NOT send your card details to strangers, i.e. internet.
- DO NOT send e-mails that quote your account number and expiry date
- DO NOT lose sight of your card at any time.
Details on what to do and what not to do AT AN ATM to avoid being a victim of fraud or theft
WHAT TO DO:
- Treat your ATM card as cash.
- At night, use an ATM that is well lit and where you have a good view of your surroundings.
- Use an ATM that is monitored by a security officer.
- Shield the ATM keypad so that people can’t see your PIN.
- Carefully secure your card and cash in your wallet, handbag or pocket before leaving the ATM.
- Destroy your credit/debit card receipts before discarding them.
- Tell the bank if your card is jammed, retained or lost.
- Tell the bank and the police if you are interfered with at an ATM.
WHAT NOT TO:
- DO NOT leave your card lying around.
- DO NOT use the ATM if there are any suspicious looking individuals around or if you think it’s been tampered with.
- NEVER accept offers of assistance with the ATM card from strangers including security guards, even if you are experiencing difficulty with the transaction.
- DO NOT let anyone see you enter your PIN.
- DO NOT be in a hurry during the transaction.
- DO NOT throw them in a public waste bin.
Details on what to do and what not to do AT AN ATM to avoid being a victim of fraud or theft
WHAT TO DO:
- Complete the beneficiary/payee details in full
- Provide your account number when making deposits.
- Use the appropriate crossings i.e. "Payee Account Only" or "Non Negotiable"
- Familiarise yourself with the layout of the cheques issued by different banks, especially in business environment
- Use alternative methods of payment such as electronic payments
- Bank statements and chequebooks are required to be locked away at all times
- Reconcile your paid cheques to your bank statement as soon as possible
- Check daily that there are no missing cheques
- Shred any cancelled cheques and make a note of them
WHAT NOT TO:
- DO NOT use abbreviations or acronyms as beneficiary details e.g. BTC
- DO NOT print cheque with pale toner/ribbon/ink
- DO NOT leave gaps before words and figures
- DO NOT issue "cash" cheques
- DO NOT mail cheques
- DO NOT advertise your banking details or provide them to unknown individuals
