Simple Steps Help Keep Personal Information Safe

Simple Steps Help Keep Personal Information Safe

Auckland, New Zealand – 19 May 2015 – During Australasian Consumer Fraud Week, MasterCard is encouraging Kiwis to take simple steps to protect their personal information especially when shopping online.

“Cyber-criminals are always looking for clever new ways to scam consumers. As Kiwis are increasingly shopping online, they should remain vigilant about where they are sharing their personal information,” says Peter Chisnall, Country Manager for MasterCard New Zealand.

“If you are unlucky enough to be affected by someone stealing your personal information – MasterCard customers can take comfort in the fact that MasterCard products include Zero Liability Protection*, meaning even if your credit or debit card details are stolen, you are covered for any unauthorised purchases,” adds Chisnall.

Anyone who thinks their credit or debit card details have been stolen or scammed should contact their bank immediately.

In addition, using a MasterPass connected digital wallet is a way to make sure payment transactions are safe and convenient. A digital wallet is a cloud-based payment form that can be used on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

Once set up, the user’s credit, debit or prepaid card information is securely stored in one location, simplifying the process of completing a transaction by removing the need to enter payment and delivery details every time a purchase is made.

“Using MasterPass means customers don’t need to give their payment and shipping details to multiple retailers across the internet, and works with your bank so personal details are stored securely,” says Chisnall.

Australasian Consumer Fraud Week is held between 18 to 24 May, with the theme for 2015 protecting your personal information to prevent identity theft.

Below are MasterCard’s top tips to promote safer shopping online.

Pay using a digital payment option. MasterPass eliminates the need to enter detailed payment and shipping information with every purchase, and simplifies and speeds up the process of completing a transaction from any connected device.
Guard your privacy and do not disclose personal information unless you know who is collecting it and how it is being used. Some websites sell their customer information to third parties, so check the small print and opt out of sharing your information if you don’t want other people to use it.

It’s not difficult to set up a page on the Internet, so the onus is on you to do some background research on the retailer you are buying from, especially if they are not a familiar brand name or you have not come across their website before.

Use a secure browser as it encrypts the purchase information you send over the Internet, making the transaction more secure. The majority of browsers do this as standard.
Ensure you have anti-virus software loaded on all your devices, including your PC, tablet and smartphone and regularly download security updates. Most of us have updated software for our computers but rarely ever for our smart devices.

Making purchases using a credit or debit card is often safer as liability for unauthorised charges is limited. As a customer, it’s your responsibility to inform your financial institution if you become aware of or see an unauthorised transaction on your card, or if your card is lost and stolen. Unauthorised transactions are normally covered under MasterCard’s Zero Liability policy, with your bank reimbursing you for any unauthorised transaction.*

Many financial providers also put an extra level of security on online purchases which protects the cardholder’s confidential information. This is usually done by submitting an additional password known only to the cardholder, for example with MasterCard SecureCode. It provides enhanced protection against the risk of credit or debit account numbers being accessed by fraudsters in cyber space, taking online security to a whole new level.

It is important to keep records of transactions and payments online. Remember to check the payment details before submitting the final payment; check the returns policy and data protection cover. Finally, print out a copy of the transaction, get a copy emailed directly to you, and make sure that the amount matches on your statement at the end of the month.

Ends

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