Online Security
We’re protecting you
At Pick n Pay we are serious about helping you stay safe online and doing our part to protect your data and accounts with us. We urge you to stay safe from the threat of online fraud, through phishing schemes or identity theft.
LATEST KNOWN SCAMS
Stay up to date with the latest known scams either targeting Pick n Pay customers or using Pick n Pay to target you.
If you are ever unsure, please call the Customer Careline on 0800 11 22 88.
- February 2019: EMAIL
Prospective vendors receive an email requesting them to provide various details of their company (including copies of directors’ IDs, tax certificates, bank statements, etc) to register for the Pick n Pay Supplier Database.
Example of scam. - December 2017: FACEBOOK
Customers receive a message to say they need to take a survey and win a voucher to the value of R1500.
Example of scam. - November 2017: FACEBOOK/EMAIL
Customers would receive a R500 off Facebook Coupon which leads to a website and disclose their personal information.
Example of scam. - February 2017: FACEBOOK
Customers receive a Facebook post/email requesting them to enter a competition to win a R2000 shopping voucher by clicking on a link and entering their personal details.
Example of scam.
Here’s a list of ways we’re protecting you online, with a few tips for your online safety.
keep your smart shopper account secure
Your Smart Shopper points are valuable! You can switch to cash back on card, airtime, partner rewards and much more so you’ll definitely want to keep your account safe.
Here are a few tips that’ll help:
- Keep your Smart Shopper number and your ID number secure; never loan them out for any reason.
- Be aware when you are at the Smart Shopper kiosk as you would be at an ATM; don’t accept help from strangers and never let someone handle your card
- Keeping your contact and account details up to date helps us keep your points safe. Check and update your details online or on the mobi app.
verification
Even if you lose your card, someone else using it at the Smart Shopper kiosk still needs to have your ID number to use your points.
In this way, as long as you keep your ID number secret, your points are secure.
suspicious behaviour
We can, in most cases, observe suspicious behaviour on Smart Shopper accounts; in such cases we will automatically block your Smart Shopper card to reduce risk to your account. You will then have to collect a new Smart Shopper card in-store and phone the Customer Careline to have your points transferred fom your old card, to your new card.
it’s in your hands
It’s now possible to update your account with the Pick n Pay Mobile App and Pick n Pay Online. This means that you have more control than ever over your account details, and we all know keeping your account up to date is a great way to stay secure.
6 Tips to keep your guard up
YOUR PASSWORD MUST BE SECURE
Choosing a password that is both memorable and complex can be tough, but there are ways to make it easier for you and difficult for would-be hackers:
- Make sure your password is at least 8 characters long, the longer it is , the more secure you are.
- Use a mix of UPPERCASE and lowercase letters, including special symbols -#$@! for example.
- Replace letters with symbols or numbers. @ = a, 3 = S, & = B. The important thing is to remember which symbols or numbers you’ve used.
- Steer clear of obvious names or words, there are still too many that use “P@SSWORD” or their name as a password.
- If you have to use numbers, avoid birthdays, postal codes, or easy-to-guess sequences like”1234”.
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts so that if one is cracked, the others remain secure.
You can continually protect yourself by changing your password regularly. For more tips and advice, visit Get Safe Online.
shop online safely
When buying online, ensure that the site you are visiting is secure - there are a few hints to make this simple:
- Check the URL; secure sites will show you https://- the s after the http shows you that it’s secure.
- If you are unsure about a retailer, search Hello Peter or Google to see if anyone else has had issues or problems with the retailer.
- Does the site you are visiting look suspicious? Typos, poor images and errors are often good signs that the retailer is not trustworthy.
too many passwords to remember?
Having many passwords is one of the best ways to secure your accounts online, but it can be a challenge to remember them all. One handy tip is to have a core password that changes depending on the account.
For example, if your password is rEPp0h$ (shopper backwards):
- Check the URL; secure sites will show you https://- the s after the http shows you that it’s secure.
- If you are unsure about a retailer, search Hello Peter or Google to see if anyone else has had issues or problems with the retailer.
- Does the site you are visiting look suspicious? Typos, poor images and errors are often good signs that the retailer is not trustworthy.
wifi isn’t secure
Be extra careful with your accounts when using WiFi hotspots, as they are not always secure. If you ever log into your accounts using WiFi, make sure you log out of those accounts when you are finished. Follow the link for more on Public WiFi Hotspots.
email scams
When someone compromises your email account, they could use it to send nasty links to your address book - this is in order to use your trustworthy email address to trick others. If you’re ever emailed a single link from a friend’s email address that seems suspicious, ignore it and speak to your friend about it first. Follow the link for more on Email Scams.
SECURE YOUR MAIL
Don’t leave any envelopes or letters that can be used to find your address in any public places or even bins. Try to have your personal information and letters shredded to protect yourself and if you ever move, make sure to update your address or set up a mail redirect. Follow the link for more on Identity Theft.
Use trusted anti-virus software
Find a reputable anti-virus software program for your computer or phone to protect yourself from malicious links and programs – as many malicious programs pretend to look like anti-virus software, try to install only trusted programs. Follow the link for more on Viruses and Spyware.
TOP TIPS
browser warning
When surfing the internet, your browser may warn you about sites known for malware or viruses - when this happens, it’s always safer to close the tab or window than continue. Follow the link for more on Browser Warnings.
phishing scams
Phishing is when fraudsters pose as a trusted institution, like a bank or Pick n Pay, for example in doing this they attempt to get your personal details. These details can include phone numbers, your ID number, address and more. The best way to avoid phishing scams is to never open links in suspicious sites. This can also be done over the phone, which is called vishing and is just as dangerous. Follow the link for more on Phishing Scams.
INSTALL UPDATES
To ensure your phone computer is secure, it’s a good idea to keep your operating system or anti-virus software up to date, as they often patch up vulnerabilities that hackers take advantage of. The more up-to-date your software is, the harder it is to crack. Follow the link for more on Installing Updates.