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Tom Muleya Fraud Insight
While the police have the sole national mandate of reducing crime, the involvement of everyone is critical in minimizing the problem of card cloning.
Why must everyone be involved? Is it not for the simple reason that everyone is affected!
I repeat, everyone is affected by this crime, and the victims comprise the general public, pensioners, corporates, financial institutions, custodians of the law, as well as Government officials.
The cyber space has compromised the security and safety of all human beings due to the fact that it can be manipulated and allows criminals to use contactless technology to attack their targets.
What is more confusing is the fact that targets or victims have no idea on how their personal or confidential data ended up in the hands of the card cloning fraudsters.
In certain instances, victims watch in amazement as series of alert messages trickle into their cellphones confirming some withdraws they never made.
The Commercial Crime Division Northern Region is receiving several reports of card cloning. This shows that more criminals are enrolling themselves in this criminal enterprise.
The reason is very simple, this type of crime does not put their lives in immediate danger like other violent crimes.
So, if more criminals are taking up this criminal trade, this therefore means that more players should be involved in the fight against the vice of card cloning, hence the need for collaboration.
Why the thought that “collaboration is key” in the fight against card cloning?
Someone out there, an innocent person has information on the criminal syndicates that are committing this crime yet they watch in silence until they become victims themselves.
Again somebody out there knows what needs to be done in order to curb this crime, but they are silent until they fall prey these criminals.
Let me give some few examples – Mr X who works at a food outlet has observed on several occasions Mr Y using various cards to swipe for expensive food. At times Y would try several cards and transactions would not go through. Is this not a red flag of card cloning?
If Mr A, who is not a business person swipes beer for $2 million from a non-corporate account, is this not a red flag of card cloning? Mr B is well known that he is not employed, has no running business, neither has he inherited late parents’ wealth but is living large.
Is this not a red flag? If financial institutions continuously lose large sums of money due to card cloning, is this not an indication that security and software upgrading should be enhanced?
Should legislators not look at the effectiveness of the Data Protection Act in dealing with the card cloning menace?
The few questions above just show how individuals and various groupings are key in the fight against crime and card cloning. Partnership with the police will yield enormous and perpetual results against crime.
Join the fight against card cloning and other digital crimes of fraud and white collar crimes. Get empowered by Fraud Insight and be part of a solution to the problem of fraud. Watch out for the next issue as we look at how various players can help curb the crime of card cloning.
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 Crime Division (CCD) Northern Region. He is also a member of the National Cyber Security Taskforce, Zimbabwe. He is currently a participant in the Interpol Global Awareness Campaign on Cybercrime running from 1 to 17 June.
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