Debit Card Fraud

What is fraud?

Fraud occurs when there is a criminal intention to deceive someone or an entity to gain something of value, such as money, power, authority and materials.

Target victims

Anyone is a potential target and scammers love to prey on those who are ignorant, gullible or greedy.

Skimming

Skimming is an electronic method of capturing a victim's personal information used by identity thieves. It is a small device that scans a debit card and stores the information contained in the magnetic strip. The stolen data stored in the magnetic strip of a cloned card may later be used to effect transactions.

Skimming can take place during a legitimate transaction at a merchant and can occur easily in a restaurant if your card is taken away while the bill is being settled.

E.g.: If your waiter/waitress is a skimming identity thief,

He/she can steal your debit card data using a hand-held electronic device
Within seconds, your debit card information is captured and can be sold or used by other criminals

Phone scam

A scammer contacts the victim on a pretext of being a Bank officer checking on a default payment and usually attempts to trick you into giving out personal information such as your bank account numbers, passwords and debit card numbers. Most victims unknowingly assume that the calls are from regulators and respond to avoid embarrassment or as a result of supposed warnings given by the "officer".

E-mail scam

Also known as 'phishing', its purpose is for personal gain or to damage another individual through email. Phishing scams are typically fraudulent email messages appearing to come from legitimate enterprises, usually directing you to a spoofed website or otherwise get you to divulge private information. The content of the email typically attempts to inflict a sense of urgency and panic in order to trick customers into revealing confidential information on a fake website/popup.

SMS scam

An SMS scam usually involves phone messages initiated by a scammer to trick victims into believing that they have won a contest/reward to lead them into compromising their banking information and/or create an internet banking facility without the victim even realising it.

Avoid being a victim

Keep yourself secured from fraud by following the tips below:

Ensure that your debit card is kept in a secured place at all times and immediately notify HSBC for any lost or stolen cards
Do not leave your debit card unattended in public areas and/or inside your car/locker to avoid theft
Do not respond to an unauthorised person asking for your debit card details via SMS, phone calls or emails
It is unusual for anyone claiming to be a Bank Negara Malaysia officer to call, check and ask for your debit card details. If this occurs, end the call immediately
Should you receive SMS transaction alerts on any unauthorized transactions, notify HSBC immediately
Remember to retrieve your debit card after performing transactions at any self-service machines e.g. ATM, self-service petrol pump stations and any retail outlets
Do not disclose your debit card details and PIN to another person or third party
Do not write PIN details on your debit card or keep your PIN details near your debit card
Avoid using easily identified numbers like the last six digits of your IC, telephone numbers, driving license number or birth date as your PIN
Do not permit another person or third party to use your debit card or perform any transactions on your behalf
Always adhere to the Terms & Conditions for the use of your HSBC Visa Debit Card

Contact us

For HSBC or HSBC Advance:

Local call number: 1300 88 1388

International call number: +603 8321 5400

For HSBC Premier:

Local call number: 1300 88 9393

International call number: +603 8321 5208