Guard that ATM card with your life
Published:Wednesday | March 22, 2017 | 11:33 PM
"Get one. Use it and keep it safe!"
Operations manager at COK Sodality Co-operative Credit Union Limited, Juliet Henry, was very thorough in her sales pitch to members gathered at the Carter Hall, 77 Half-Way Tree Road, St Andrew, on Wednesday. She addressed them on the benefits of not only acquiring its Access Plus ATM card, but also using it in their daily business transactions.
"Treat your card with care, treat it as cash. Do not let your card out of your sight when you're doing a transaction," she warned."We have heard in the news the whole thing about fraud within the financial industry, and so you want to keep and protect your money and your information."
Explaining the advantages of ease of access and paying for large purchases without having to carry large sums of cash on their persons, Henry stressed the importance of balancing those benefits with constant vigilance and protection of the Access Plus card, as well as the security information relating to it.
"Do not share your card with anyone; and if it is lost or compromised, report it immediately. There is a sheet of paper that you get, the receipt. Don't just crush it up and throw it in the bin inside the ATM machine. Understand that these records keep information and if persons want to mess you up, they could get some information. So we encourage you to maintain your receipt and verify your transactions on your account. And COK offers online banking, too, so you don't have to make a phone call or come in to our branches in order to verify your transactions," the financial expert pointed out.
Noting that the personalised information number (PIN), a code which allows access to carry out the various transactions, should be personal to the owner, she stressed that customers should avoid using their date of birth or that of children, combinations that a thief would be likely to figure out easily if they gain access to the card.
"Do not write it down. Memorise it and do not give it to anyone to do things on your behalf. Understand that you assume the risk if that card is used, not in accordance with how you would wish it to be used."