GURGAON, INDIA: Increase in the number of points of financial transactions has not only given the customers greater accessibility to financial products and offerings but has also made him more vulnerable to different kinds of frauds. These frauds could be related to theft and misuse of Savings Bank account, Credit and Debit Card and Internet Banking user ID and passwords. Phishing has added yet another element to the already existing basket of threats that customer is vulnerable to. "Phishing", involves Internet fraudsters who send e-mail messages to lure personal information (Internet Banking User id, passwords, credit / debit card numbers, bank account information, or other personal and sensitive information) from unsuspecting victims. Clicking on the link or even pasting it in the address bar of your browser exposes the customer to such frauds.

ICICI Bank, being the second largest bank in the country, has taken the initiative to educate all financial customers on ways to protect themselves from different kinds of frauds and to make their financial relationships simple and secure. This initiative has manifested in the form of the 'Safe Banking' campaign that has been running across media- Print, TV, Online, and Outdoor- for the last three months now. ICICI Bank also sends out these 'Safe Banking' tips to its customers through their monthly and quarterly Account and Credit Cards statements. Customers who regularly use Internet Banking can also see these tips on the homepage of ICICI Bank.

Some of the 'Safe Banking' tips by ICICI Bank are as follows-

Protect yourself from Phishing

•  Never reply to e-mails asking for your password or PIN
•  Visit bank's websites by typing the URL into the address bar
•  Verify the domain name displayed to avoid spoof websites before using Internet Banking
•  Never give away your account or card details for free gifts
  Protect your Money
•  Check that the site is secure before shopping online
•  Protect your Internet password
•  Never use unprotected PCs at cyber cafes for Internet banking
•  Never leave the PC unattended when using Internet banking in a public place
•  Log off' and close your browser when you've finished using Internet banking
•  Never install, run or use programs or files obtained from unknown sources

Protect your PIN

• Never let a stranger assist you at the ATM
•  Protect your Money
•  Count the money and put it in your wallet before leaving the ATM
•  Report lost or stolen credit card immediately
•  Check your monthly credit card and bank statements for unusual activity

Protect your Savings

• Never keep your PIN and cards together
•  Always draw a line through unused space on the cheque
•  Never leave your cheque book unattended
•  Never sign blank cheques
•  Remember to cross your cheque whenever applicable
•  Count the number of cheque leaves whenever you receive a new cheque book