GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Following a spate of banking fraud cases, Great Brak River Police have appealed to residents to be careful with their personal information.

A talk was held at the Groenkloof Great Brak River Retirement Village in August, where the issue of fraud was discussed.

According to the Great Brak Community Policing Forum (CPF) many senior citizens fall victim to fraud, especially online and over the phone. This is a major concern for police as well as the CPF.

According to the police, they receive reports of up to 15 fraud incidents per month. These are often cases in which a person receives a one-time pin (OTP) via SMS, which they are then asked to give to someone over the phone.

The CPF shared these tips:

• Never respond to emails or cellphone messages appearing to be from your bank, which request your details. Remember that no bank will ever ask you to confirm or update your account details by email.

• Never provide your online ID, password or PIN to anyone and never write them down or share them.

• Do not save your Internet banking password on your desktop.

• Do not leave your computer unattended after you have entered your Internet banking password.

• Always log off or sign off at the end of a session.

• Avoid doing Internet banking in public areas such as Internet cafés, or on any computer that can be accessed by people you do not know.

• Change your PIN and passwords frequently.

• Put sensible transaction limits on your accounts.

• Only provide your credit card details to reputable companies.

• If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

NEVER send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.

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