South Africa’s sophisticated banking system has allowed consumers to opt into multiple payment methods, all suited to their lifestyles and personal choices. The Mastercard 2022 survey found that 95% of South African consumers used at least one digital payment method, while the National Treasury announced that it was promoting cashless payment methods for low-value payments with tap-and-go cards. Woolworths announced it was going cashless in its WCcafé’s, and FNB said cashless payments in 2023 accounted for 50% of its card payments. The ability to tap-and-go makes life easier and more convenient, but Richard Frost, Product Head at Armata, warns that it may cost consumers more than they bargained for.
“Imagine you are paying for petrol, and someone is standing near you,” he says. “They are talking on their phone. It is completely normal. Nothing to worry about, right? Well, until you tap the point-of-sale device with your card, that is. As you tap, that person taps your card and the money comes off twice – once for the petrol, once for the fraudster. It is an incredibly easy scam to perpetrate as well; all you need is a credit card machine in your pocket, and you can take any amount you want from someone’s card.”
By the time the consumer gets the two notifications from their bank that the money has come off twice, the person has disappeared, along with the funds. It is a concern, especially for customers that have become comfortable with the quick and easy method of payment that has led the way since the pandemic. Of even more concern is the fact that many cards do not have a limit – users can pay upwards of R10 000 with a tap of their card. All that is needed to finalise the transaction for larger amounts is verifying an SMS from the bank, a step that could save them if they fall victim to this scam.
For FNB customers, protection is mandatory; the company is ending the tap-and-go functionality as of 2024. However, for anyone else, it is important to change the way they use their cards, particularly for large amounts in crowded or busy areas. Some banks allow users to disable the tap functionality in their cards. “This is,” says Frost, “the best way to ensure financial security.”
“Disable the function and keep your card as a backup, somewhere safe where nobody can find it,” he suggests. “Only use it when you have to insert it into a machine and use your PIN. The best option is to use your mobile phone with a virtual card or one of the digital wallet payment services like Google Pay or Apple Wallet. Your mobile phone has more security and when you tap it, the phone will only allow the amount to come off once. After that, any additional taps will fail, which will prevent this type of fraud from happening. There is also a time limit on your phone, which means that the window of opportunity for someone to come up and tap your phone is significantly smaller. Then bolster this by making the tap amount on your phone small so you can protect yourself from the outset.”
“Then, for the worst-case scenario, use a private folder on your phone to hide your banking apps,” concludes Frost. “There have been cases where people have been held at gunpoint and forced to do an EFT so do not have your account visible. It is also worth investing in a protected wallet as this will add yet another layer of protection.”
Consumers should consider using their chip and PIN function in their cards for expensive purchases, their mobile devices for quick tap-and-go purchases, and to remain aware of their surroundings at all times. It is advisable to avoid making payments in a crowded space and to opt into payment solutions that require some form of authentication.
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