Be alert and extremely vigilant of any unsolicited phone calls, text messages and emails from fraudsters, don’t give away your personal and security information unless you know it is safe.
We take your safety as a priority.
Take note of the following and be safe.
Keeping you and your money safe
- Remember 'SCAM'...
- S – Shield your personal information, whether it is printed information or entering your PIN
- C – Check your financial information regularly and report anything suspicious to us as soon as you can
- A – Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report
- M – Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts and reconcile them frequently
If you see or experience anything suspicious contact us on our helpline.
Beware of fraudsters
- National Bank of Commerce Limited will never call to request for your Personal Identification Number (PIN) or your online banking password. National Bank of Commerce Limited will never ask you to check if the number on your phone display matches its registered number. Be cautious, fraudsters might alter the number shown on the phone
- National Bank of Commerce Limited will never tell you to transfer money to another account
- Never disclose your passwords and PINs to anybody
- Keep your computer's anti-virus software up to date
- Do not assume a caller is genuine because he/she knows your banking details. Fraudsters could have basic information about you, such as your address, bank account number and details of recent transactions
- Fraudsters are luring people for their bank details. These details are the keys to your account security – do not let them in
Debit cards
Details on what to do and what not to do with your debit card to avoid being a victim of fraud.
| What to do | What not to do |
| Keep your card in a secure place | DO NOT share your PIN |
| Memorise your PIN | DO NOT keep your PIN in your wallet, mobile phone or any place that another person can access |
| Shield your PIN from others when entering it | DO NOT let others see your PIN |
| Sign card on the signature panel | DO NOT send your card details to strangers, i.e. over the internet |
| Treat your card as cash | DO NOT send e-mails that quote your account number and expiry date |
| Ensure that you get your own card back after every purchase | DO NOT lose sight of your card at any time |
ATM security
Details on how to make your ATM banking experience more secure.
| What to do | What not to do |
| At night, use an ATM that is well-lit and where you have a good view of your surroundings | DO NOT use the ATM if there are any suspicious looking individuals around or if you think it's been tampered with |
| Use an ATM that is monitored by a security officer | NEVER accept offers of assistance with the ATM card from strangers including security guards, even if you are experiencing difficulty with the transaction |
| Shield the ATM keypad so that people can't see your PIN | DO NOT let anyone see your enter you PIN |
| Carefully secure your card and cash in your wallet, handbag or pocket before leaving the ATM machine | DO NOT be in a hurry during the transaction |
| Destroy your debit card receipts before discarding them | DO NOT throw them in a public waste bin |
| Tell the bank if your card is jammed, retained or lost | |
| Tell the bank and the police if you are interfered with at an ATM |
Watch out for skimming
'Skimming' is where criminals use devices to collect and store information from a debit card in the course of the transaction. They later use the details fraudulently.
Skimming can happen anywhere you use your debit card. Fraudsters collect and store information during a transaction.
Skimming can also happen at pay-at-the-pump locations and in restaurants where portable units are used to skim your debit card information when you pay.
What to do
- Check for any unusual objects not normally found on ATM, e.g. check the card slot of the ATM to ensure that there are no unusual objects covering it
- Check that the ATM keypad is smooth and numbers are not unusually raised up or tampered with
- If there are any cameras around the lighting area of the ATM mainly facing the keypad must be treated as suspicious
- At shops and other pay points: NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR CARD
Cheque security
Details on what to do and what not to do with your cheques to avoid being a victim of fraud:
| What to do | What not to do |
| Complete the beneficiary/payee details in full | DO NOT use abbreviations or acronyms as beneficiary details, e.g. BTC |
| Provide your account number when making deposits | DO NOT print cheque with pale toner/ribbon/ink |
| Use the appropriate crossings i.e. 'Payee Account Only' or 'Non-Negotiable' | DO NOT leave gaps before words and figures |
| Familiarise yourself with the layout of the cheques issued by different banks, especially in business environment | DO NOT issue 'cash' cheques |
| Use alternative methods of payment such as electronic payments | DO NOT mail cheques |
| Bank statements and chequbooks are required to be locked away at all times | DO NOT advertise your banking details or provide them to unknown individuals |
| Reconcile your paid cheques to your bank statement as soon as possible |
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| Check daily that there are no missing cheques | |
| Shred any cancelled cheques and make a note of them |
Cheques you receive:
Protect yourself against attempts to defraud you or your business:
- Do not release goods without checking with your bank, even if a bank cheque is presented
- Check the payee details, the amount in words and figures and the date carefully for alterations
- Be on the look out for stamps that are placed over areas that could conceal alterations
- Be suspicious of cheques written with a black koki pen
- Watch out for errors on the printed areas of the cheques such as the name and account number, details of the client, the bank branch name, and the MICR code
- Black shaded areas may be an indication that the original details were obliterated and replaced
- Be suspicious if the cheque appears faded, as chemicals could have been used to remove information
- Watch out for shaky signatures – they could indicate that the signature was traced
Identify Theft and Identify Fraud
Identity theft and identity fraud are crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data for financial gain.
Here's how you can protect yourself:
- Make sure that no-one is looking over your shoulder at an ATM or a point of sale
- Always shield your PIN when entering it
- Keep information secure
- Shred paper based information when you don't need it any more
- Never use a public computer (e.g. internet café) to carry out internet banking
- Don't disclose your banking details in an email or the post
- Always keep information about you secure! Fraudsters can obtain and use your personal data unlawfully
Need more information or assistance?
Call us:
+255 76 898 4000/4011 | +255 22 219 3000 | +255 22 551 1000 | 0800711177 (Toll-Free)
Email us:
