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Tom Muleya Fraud Insight
Card cloning fraudsters are on a shopping rampage as they swipe Christmas groceries with victims’ cloned cards. In the previous article, I warned people to take caution against festive season fraudsters. In this instalment, we continue with the festive season crime awareness education and implore all people to be extra vigilant in protecting their personal information and hard earned cash. Engaging in crime preventive measures should be a daily routine.
In mid 2022, there was a drastic decline of card cloning cases following the arrest of kingpins of card cloning.
Since the beginning of December 2022, cases of card cloning resurfaced and started to shoot upward again. The common notable feature in these cases is that card cloners are swiping groceries in supermarkets.
Since the kingpins are still remanded in custody, this suggests that new recruits are on the ground and their primary concern is obtaining goods for festive season celebrations.
Since the bulk of workers are getting paid their bonuses in December, we can expect more victims of card cloning. Losing hard earned cash at such a time like this means a spoiled holiday and denied opportunity to connect with relatives and friends.
Card cloners will victimize the following people, the elderly people, individuals with fatty accounts, civil servants/Government employees, private sector employees, patrons at shopping centres, and any person who exposes credit/debit card to card cloning fraudsters.
Card cloners harvest personal information or details in a number of ways that include, secret cameras, shoulder surfing, lost details e.g. debit/credit cards, hacking, and wilful disclosure of pin to strangers or third parties, and through trash receipts.
In order to prevent or minimise incidences of card cloning, one may consider the following;
• Exercise responsible behaviour. Carelessness will cost one’s fortunes when fraudsters pounce
• Check vulnerabilities or weaknesses within yourself and your security system by probing ways in which you may be attacked
• Never move around with a credit/debit card with large sums of money in highly prone areas or places such as beer outlets or shops
• Never wilfully share or disclose your personal details with strangers or third parties as this may lead you into being cloned
• Never give details to people who call you by phone and advise you that they are from the bank and are fixing your account. These are scammers as banks do not request information over the phone
• Never be too desperate to swipe for US$ at the POS machines with the street vendors
• Never shout your pin to the till operator when transacting as this exposes you to cloners who will be lurking in the shops
• Ensure to keep a reasonable distance between yourself and the next person when transacting.
Participate in the fight against cybercrimes involving card cloning. Think cyber security and enjoy your festive season. Watch out for the next issue.
For your feedback, WhatsApp line: 0772 764 043, or e-mail:[email protected]. Tom Muleya is a Detective Assistant Inspector working under the CID Commercial Crimes Division. He is also a member of the National Cyber Security Awareness Taskforce, Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter