Hafiz: Activities undertaken by Saudi banks aims to enhance public awareness of the different financial fraud operations & ways of protections
AL-Rabeah: Saudi banking sector has built a reputation for being pioneer in e-banking services
AL-Hareeqi: Launching the Campaign in summer to coincide with vacation season & the increasing usage of credit cards
Saudi banks launched today a campaign aimed to educate public of the different fraud operations & ways of protections under the title of "Do not disclose it". The campaign will run during the summer and focus on the importance of safeguarding personal & banking information and PIN numbers.
Speaking at the press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, the campaign is the third phase of an awareness drive launched two years ago, Talat Zaki Hafiz, secretary general of Media &Banking Awareness Committee of Saudi Banks, stressed that while the banking sector has already achieved higher levels of awareness about financial fraud over the past two years, Saudi Banks will continue to reach out to customers in order to insure their financial safety.
"We have successfully worked with our customers to reduce the issues that they have faced when banking online," said Hafiz. "Most people in Saudi use e-banking services more than any other type of banking services. Our last awareness campaign explained how to use online banking and phone banking in a safe and secured manner. We have noticed customers' awareness level has improved dramatically, but just as fraudsters are constantly adapting new techniques, we must also continue our educational campaigns to keep our customers safe."
Hafiz indicated that while our banks have developed very advanced e-banking services that are secured & sound but despite the fact the most important thing to bear in mind is that they are only as secured as the person using them. Online banking has proved to be a major success in Kingdom due to its ease use and convenience, and we want to make sure that nothing spoils that experience".
The campaign was given the title 'do not disclose it ' to stress the importance of keeping personal & banking information private and confidential, says Hafiz. "What we are doing this year in relation to fraud prevention builds on previous activities which reinforced the need to use secure e-banking services. If our customers use only official banking channels and do not give out their personal details they'll be much less susceptible to fraud.
Hafiz thanked the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) for their continued support which has proved to be instrumental in efforts at raising fraud awareness. "This campaign has underlined the need for cooperation between banks and the Saudi public. So far the dialogue has been constructive and we hope to continue making progress on this issue, to educate both our customers and to reinforce the reputation of the Saudi banking sector as one which is committed to its customers and to the national economy. The Kingdom is known for having one of the lowest levels of financial fraud worldwide, and we want to keep it that way."
The campaign, which will run through the media, will look to raise awareness of how fraud is practiced online according to Mohammed Al-Rabeah, Head of Media & Banking Awareness Working Team of Saudi Banks, . "There'll be a focus on how to spot phishing, when a person tries to acquire your username, password and credit card details through fake websites, as well as other techniques used by fraudsters. This year's campaign will build on what we have done over the past two years, and we will be reaching out to enhance customers awareness about the safest way to use electronic banking channels and how to spot fraudulent methods used by fraudsters."
"What customers should always remembers not to disclose their banking information to anyone & the only way to update banking records & information is through the bank branch. Also they must not response to any emails or phone calls received from unknown sources "added Al-Rabeah.
Other advice to avoid being a victim of banking fraud includes changing your PIN numbers periodically, particularly when returning from abroad, and choosing PIN numbers which are not sequential. Al-Rabeah stressed the importance of while customers are traveling to keep their mobiles phone numbers registered at the bank always on in order to receive banking messages.
"If you lose your credit or ATM card report immediately to your bank & also do not give out your PIN details to anyone or banking information," said Al-Rabeah. "Saudi Arabia banking sector has one of the best e-banking systems in the world. These electronic services are based on the best practices found worldwide and feature state-of-the-art security systems. Saudi banks have invested heavily to developing these electronic services, to ensure that costumers enjoy both protection and ease of use. Educational efforts such as this campaign are also needed, so that our customers are aware of phishing and other types of fraud practiced both on and offline.
The anti-fraud campaign will run on national radio, through newspaper advertising, and SMS messaging. Saudi customers can also find out more about fraud prevention face to face at different online locations. "We will also look to use social media channels to communicate with Saudi youth," added member of the Media & Banking Awareness Working Team of Saudi Banks Saad Al-Hareeqi. "Saudi banks who are part of the campaign will spread awareness through their own media channels."
According to Al-Hareeqi the campaign was timed to coincide with summer and the vacation season. "Summer is one of the most active periods of the year when it comes to the use of credit cards. People use their cards to book their vacations, pay for their flights and shop when abroad. While the campaign will run during the summer, we will run activities all year round to ensure that banking customers know about the most common types of fraud and how to prevent fraud happening to them."
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© Press Release 2011
