At Parallex Bank Limited, keeping your personal information secure and confidential is a priority. We take appropriate measures to protect the security of your personal information and prevent unauthorized access to same.
Security Tips
- Use a personal firewall and anti-virus software: This can prevent unauthorised access and viruses being downloaded onto your PC when you’re on the Internet.
- Pay Attention to your Environment: Shield and carefully protect your PIN when you are conducting transactions at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or when making Point of Sale (POS) transactions at retail stores and agent banking locations.
Only enter credit card and personal information when it involves a transaction you initiated and on Websites you trust.
Always log on to our internet banking service via our website – www.parallexbank.com
Watch out for copycat websites. Don’t fall prey to any website that looks similar to Parallex Bank’s website. Check the URL carefully. (https://www.parallexbank.com)
- Check the padlock symbol and site certificate: Double-click the padlock symbol at the bottom of your browser when you log-in to Parallex Online Banking to ensure the site certificate belongs to Parallex Bank Limited. This will ensure you’re not being duped into entering your details on a ‘fake’ site.
- Always log-out after using Online Banking: Just select the log-out button and never leave your PC unattended while you’re logged in to the service.
- Keep your personal details secret: Never write down or reveal your password. Giving away your Internet Banking login, card details, PIN and codes from your token device, gives anyone total access to your account. Parallex Bank Limited will never ask for any of these details via any form of communication.
Keep your ATM cards safe and do not share your personal identity number (PIN) with anyone. Do not keep any written copy of your PIN with your card. Memorize it.
- Vishing: Seeing a phone number or email address you recognize does not mean it is genuine. Always give cold-callers a cold reception
Vishing is a fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce you to reveal personal information, such as bank details and credit card numbers.
- Be extra wary of emails: See the scam email section for all the details.
- Check your accounts regularly:Check your bank account statements and card transactions regularly to make sure these only reflect transactions you have made. If you see a transaction you cannot explain, report it to the bank.
- Legitimate Notification: Subscribe to SMS alerts to be delivered to your cell phone or email, so you can stay updated on your account activity.
Recognizing Fraud
- Scam Emails
Scam e-mails are “spoofed” emails, and it is the most common avenue of online scams. Email spoofing is a technique that is used to trick you into thinking a message came from a reputable source in order for you to divulge your personal information such as your Bank Verification Number, to carry out fraudulent activities – steal your money.
You may receive emails that look like they come from Parallex Bank, asking you to disclose your security information.
Please be advised that the Bank will never ask you to disclose your personal or security details by email. If you receive an email asking you to ‘verify your account’, ‘confirm your sign-in details’, or a similarly worded request, it is certainly a scam. These are probably from criminals looking to steal your money.
Usually, the links contained in these ‘phishing’ emails will direct you to a fake Internet banking website requiring you to ‘update’ or ‘verify’ your details on the page. Be warned – these can appear to be genuine. Don’t click on these links or provide any of your security details.
If you’re ever in doubt about whether an email is genuine, do not click on its links or open any attachments.
- Phishing Scams
Phishing is a type of deception designed to obtain and use your personal data for fraudulent purposes. It involves the use of fraudulent email or browser pop-up messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, often using a company name, logo, and/or graphic.
A typical phishing scam consists of:
- An email message stating you need to update or validate your account information.
- The message suggests a dire consequence, such as your online access expiring or being suspended, if you do not respond.
- Via a link in the message, it directs you to a Web site that looks legitimate, but is not.
Con artists might send thousands of fraudulent e-mail messages to trick you into divulging personal information, such as your account number, Debit/Credit card numbers, User ID or Password via e-mail or on an illegitimate website created by them so they can commit crimes of a monetary nature or identity theft. It may also be an attempt to deliver and install malicious code (malware) that can harm your computer.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Phishing
- Never open any email unless you know the sender. The very act of opening an email can infect your computer with malware. Be sceptical of every email you get, and never click on suspicious links, or download suspicious attachments.
- Contact your bank immediately and delete the e-mail after reporting it.
- Check to make sure that your virus definitions and anti-spyware are up-to-date and scan the computer, especially if you accidentally clicked on the link or attachment in the e-mail.
Credit/Debit Card and PIN
- Guard your Credit/Debit Card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) like you guard your cash.
- Never write your PIN anywhere or send it via email.
- Prevent others from seeing you enter your PIN at the ATM by using your body to shield their view.
- Do not accept assistance from others at the ATM facility.
- Promptly notify Parallex Bank if your Credit/Debit Card is lost, stolen or jammed in the machine. Please call any of the following numbers
- 0700 727 25539
- 0912 180 4317
- 0912 192 1226
- 0912 272 2067
Password Security
Customers gain access to their accounts online by supplying their username and password to the internet banking application for verification and authentication. Passwords are the keys to your personal and account information. Therefore, care must be exercised in constructing passwords. The following are some easy steps that you can take to protect yourself from having your personal information compromised.
| DO’s | DON’T’s |
| Use at least eight (8) characters | Use names and/or dictionary words |
| Use both letters and numbers | Use personal information |
| Use special characters (e.g !,@#&$) | Write it on a sticky note and paste it on your monitor |
| Use UPPER and lower case | Keep it in a drawer or write it in your diary |
| Use combined or misspelled words | Use the same password for several applications |
| Guard your fingers when typing | Recycle old passwords |
| Change password periodically | Send via mail or SMS or disclose it to someone else |
Customer’s Responsibility
You are the first and best layer of defense in combating online fraud. Learning to properly detect and avoid online scams is the ultimate protection against fraud. Read the tips above to help you spot potential scams.