Proactively protect your identity from fraudsters

There are many different things that can identify who you are, such as your cellphone number, email address or a photo. This information can be used by fraudsters to commit application fraud and general identity theft across various channels.
 

But, this is information we often share without much thought as we trust that the recipient has security measures in place to protect it.
 

Here are tips to help you protect your identity

 Keep your ID and passport safe

• Never leave copies of your passport or ID lying around or in your email account. Make sure that any hard copies are completely destroyed before throwing it away.
• If you are travelling, make sure to leave your passport in the safe when you leave your accommodation.

Secure your email account

• Never use your work email address for private use and vice versa. If possible, avoid having important documents including bank or investment account statements emailed to you.
• Make sure your email account is secure by using a 15-character password and enabling second-factor authentication. Don’t use the same email username and password on any other accounts.

Be mindful what you post on social media

• Limit any personal identifiable information on your social media pages, such as an email address and cellphone number.
• Be careful what photos you post - these could easily reveal more than what you had intended, for example, where you live.

Log into Investec Online or the App

You can easily:
 

• Access Manage my life - it is designed to help you organise all your personal information in one secure online place. You can upload and save important documents in My Briefcase which can be accessed from anywhere in the world through Investec Online or the App. You can get alerts when important documents, such as a driver’s licence or passport, are reaching an expiry date.
• Request and download stamped statements, tax certificates and visa letters. Simply look under ‘My banking’ and click on ‘Statements & documents’.

Keep your cellphone safe

If your phone gets lost or is stolen, you can block your SIM and report its theft to the police. However, the device itself could leave you vulnerable to criminals.
 

To protect your cellphone – and finances – from fraudsters, remember that the Investec App is linked to your device, not to your SIM card or cellphone number. The device could have no SIM – and the App would still work if there is an available internet connection.

That is why it's so important to:

1.  Keep your phone locked when you are not using it.
2. Make sure you have a strong and unique password or activated biometrics, like fingerprint (Touch ID etc) or a facial scan.
3. Activate In App Authentication that will send a message to your cellphone to confirm that you are logging into Investec Online on your desktop. In App Authentication is a second-factor security measure. Keep in mind, second-factor authentication ‘talks’ to the App and is in no way connected to your cellphone number.

FIND OUT MORE: Get more insights on fraud and cybersecurity