|
May 22, 2003
Interac Association: PIN Security Awareness Program
Canadians use Interac Shared Services millions of times a day to safely withdraw money from their banking accounts and to pay for goods and services;
Cardholders can keep their money safe by playing a significant role in protecting their Personal Identification Number (PIN) and debit card(s) and being PIN Smart;
The "Protect Your PIN" icon features a stylized PIN pad being shielded by hands combined with a "Protect Your PIN" tagline. The icon was developed to increase cardholder's awareness around PIN protection. The Interac Association and its Members want to enforce the importance of PIN security as something cardholders do every time they use the Interac Shared Services;
Cardholder Tips
Use your hand or body to shield your PIN when you are conducting transactions at an ABM or at the point-of-sale.
Never let your banking card out of your sight when conducting a transaction at the point-of-sale. Always remember to take your banking card and transaction record with you once your transaction is completed.
Regularly check your statements and balances to verify all transactions have been properly documented. If entries do not accurately reflect transaction activities, for example, if there are missing or additional transactions, you should contact your financial institution immediately.
If your banking card is lost, stolen or retained by an ABM, notify your financial institution immediately upon becoming aware of the problem.
Your banking card and PIN are the keys to your account(s). Never disclose your PIN to anyone or you could be liable for losses. You are the only person who should know it.
Memorize your PIN - it's your electronic signature. If you suspect that someone knows your PIN, change it immediately or contact your financial institution to cancel the card.
When selecting your PIN, never use obvious information. You could be liable for losses if you create your PIN by using your telephone number, date of birth, address or social insurance number.
Remember safety comes first. Cardholders should not take unnecessary risks.
Merchant Tips
You must ensure the terminal is installed so that your customers can easily shield the PIN pad while entering their Personal Identification Number.
Your customer must enter their own Personal Identification Number; never enter the number for them, even if asked to do so.
Allow your customer to hold the PIN pad until they receive the final approval/decline response message.
Always give your customer a copy of the transaction record.
Your customer does not have to sign the transaction record.
Always return the banking card to your customer.
If the terminal is not working, you should check the following first before contacting your service provider: Are all of the appropriate connections (electrical and telephone) in place? Does the terminal have recording paper? Are the telephone lines working?
If the service is not working, you should contact your service provider.
You must deal with customer complaints regarding incorrect purchase amounts; for all other banking card issues, refer your customer to their financial institution.
|
