Avoid fraud while abroad, travellers urged

People going abroad soon – including those on holidays to South Africa – should take care with their credit and debit cards in order to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

People going abroad soon – including those on holidays to South Africa – should take care with their credit and debit cards in order to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

Tim Pie, spokesperson for HSBC, offered this advice because he said people are more relaxed while abroad and could therefore be vulnerable to letting their guard down, particularly while at cash points or in restaurants.

He urged people to keep their cards and PINs secure, as well as taking other forms of payment – such as traveller’s cheques – abroad in case of an emergency.

The comments follow a recent report from price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, which found that one in ten people have had transactions abroad cancelled because they have not notified their bank about their trip.

The firm found that 69 per cent of people forget to do so, resulting in their card not being authorised because the bank assumes it is fraudulent.