Be wary of deposit fraud
Bank clients are urged not to release goods on the basis of receipts because these invoices are often used for fraudulent activities.
Clients should be wary of accepting deposit slips, electronic transfer slips or proof of internet banking transfer transactions as these documents can be forged, says Bank Windhoek manager for forensic services, Johnny Truter.
He urged bank clients not to release goods on the basis of an invoice or proof thereof and said that they should verify that the funds have in fact been deposited into their accounts.
“Just as more and more businesses do not accept cheques as proof of payment, because of the high risk of fraud associated with them, we advise businesses and individual clients not to accept deposit slips as a confirmation of payment without further verification and confirmation,” said Truter.
Truter advised bank clients to always ask for identification documents and verify against the physical person.
“Be aware that identification theft usually accompanies fraud in the form of stolen or forged documents to create positive identification and trust,” he said.
“Always verify the alleged deposit with your bank. Do not call a phone number provided by the client, but rather find it in the directory. Verify even where an SMS or e-mail notification of the deposit from your bank was received.”
He said fraudsters may change the information on the bank stamped deposit slip provided as proof of payment to indicate that cash was deposited while in fact it was a cheque.
“When a cheque deposit was made, be aware of clearance periods. It may take five days for the cheque to be cleared. Do not release goods before the cheque is cleared. To do so, is at your own risk,” he advised.
“Be very cautious where the client is absent and wants to do the transaction over the telephone or email and immediately after supplying a deposit slip, sends a courier to collect the goods. A big order just before closing time should be handled as suspicious. Fraudsters may do it to avoid the identification verification process,” he concluded.
STAFF REPORTER
He urged bank clients not to release goods on the basis of an invoice or proof thereof and said that they should verify that the funds have in fact been deposited into their accounts.
“Just as more and more businesses do not accept cheques as proof of payment, because of the high risk of fraud associated with them, we advise businesses and individual clients not to accept deposit slips as a confirmation of payment without further verification and confirmation,” said Truter.
Truter advised bank clients to always ask for identification documents and verify against the physical person.
“Be aware that identification theft usually accompanies fraud in the form of stolen or forged documents to create positive identification and trust,” he said.
“Always verify the alleged deposit with your bank. Do not call a phone number provided by the client, but rather find it in the directory. Verify even where an SMS or e-mail notification of the deposit from your bank was received.”
He said fraudsters may change the information on the bank stamped deposit slip provided as proof of payment to indicate that cash was deposited while in fact it was a cheque.
“When a cheque deposit was made, be aware of clearance periods. It may take five days for the cheque to be cleared. Do not release goods before the cheque is cleared. To do so, is at your own risk,” he advised.
“Be very cautious where the client is absent and wants to do the transaction over the telephone or email and immediately after supplying a deposit slip, sends a courier to collect the goods. A big order just before closing time should be handled as suspicious. Fraudsters may do it to avoid the identification verification process,” he concluded.
STAFF REPORTER
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