Online Security and awareness centre
Awareness
Below are important security tips to take note of :
Phishing
Phishing is a scam designed to obtain the necessary information from you to gain access to your banking accounts.
How it works
- Phishers’ send an email message that appears to be from a business or organisation that you may deal with.
- The message may ask you to update, validate or confirm your account information. Some phishing emails threaten a dire consequence if you don’t respond.
- The messages direct you to a website that looks just like a legitimate organisation’s website. But it is not – it is a bogus site that does not contain the security features that protect customers who are logged onto the Bank’s website.
- When they get your personal information, they can steal your online identity and run up bills and commit fraud in your name.
Remember, Mercantile bank will never send you an email requesting you to provide your personal or login details. If you are in doubt about the source of an email or request for such information claiming to come from us, please contact Mercantile Bank immediately on 0860 30 92 50 or 0860 11 99 25.
Fraud prevention
- Always keep your password a secret, remember to change them regularly
- Please keep your DIGIPASS™ in a safe place.
- Refrain from using public facilities to do your secure banking e.g. internet cafe, hotels, as these terminals may not be secure
- Always type in the full www.mercantile.co.za to log on to the Bank's BANK@bility website. Do not access via a bookmark or saved page
- Monitor your accounts regularly for irregular activity and report any suspicious activity to our contact centre.
- Your DIGIPASS™ will further protect you in the event that someone gains access to your profile.
- Install and maintain up to date anti virus and anti spyware as such software can reduce the likelihood of someone accessing your personal information stored on your computer or laptop.
- Ensure that no one has unauthorised access to your PC and no person by means of physical presence can install unauthorised software on your PC. For example, password protection is a means of protection.
- Ensure that you make use of only licensed software on your PC.
- Wherever possible make sure that your operating system, browser and email are running on the latest version and you have installed all the latest service packs and hot fixes.
- Ensure that your mail client is configured not to allow system generated emails to be sent without your confirmation. This will prevent applications sending unauthorised emails.
- Make sure that the antivirus software is updated regularly on your computer and signature files.
- Do not open suspicious or unfamiliar emails
- If possible, install desktop firewall for spyware detection
- Ensure that you have control over the shared folders on your PC as shared folders could make your PC vulnerable to unauthorised installation of suspicious software.
- Always check the URL of the the Bank's internet banking website – BANK@bility begins with “https” rather than “http”
- Never disclose your Password to anyone.
