Kuwait, 20 May 2024: In an effort to increase public awareness about online financial security, Kuwait International Bank (KIB) issued a comprehensive set of safety tips designed to protect consumers while they shop online. The initiative comes as part of KIB’s continuous support for the ‘Let’s Be Aware’ (Diraya) campaign, which was launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) in collaboration with local banks, as well as the Bank’s comprehensive social responsibility program.

Commenting on the campaign, Dawood Behbehani, Assistant General Manager - Information Security, Privacy and Anti-Fraud Department at KIB, said: “As e-commerce continues to grow, so does the importance of safeguarding personal and financial information against the rise in cyber threats targeting unsuspecting shoppers. At KIB, our priority is to empower our customers with knowledge and tools to enhance their shopping experience without compromising their security.”

Behbehani pointed out several key safety measures, saying: “It is highly advised to avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks when conducting any financial transactions online to avoid vulnerabilities associated with the insecure network. Customers must also create strong passwords that do not include their names, dates of birth, or phone numbers for all e-commerce accounts. They are also advised to adopt Two-Factor Authentication to add an extra layer of security against any hacking attempts.”

Behbehani also highlighted: “Shopping should be confined to reputable websites that are known to have safe electronic point of sale systems, ensuring the security of data transfers. Additionally, consumers should be cautious about the personal information they share online and adjust their privacy settings on social media and other platforms to minimize the exposure of information that may be exploited by fraudsters through social engineering. Awareness of common online scams, such as phishing emails and fake websites, is also of great importance.”

Behbehani warned against sharing OTP codes with anyone and advised users to carefully read OTP text messages, as they often contain the transaction details and the transaction amount. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of reviewing the reason for validation before authenticating any process via the Kuwait Mobile ID app.

For more safety, activating notifications to view the details of each online banking transaction processed through all the different types of debit cards is recommended, Behbehani added. Consumers are advised to regularly monitor their bank statements and transaction histories for any signs of unauthorized or suspicious activity, as prompt reporting can prevent further fraud, while the password and PIN should be changed frequently. He also advised keeping track of the social media accounts of local banks and the Central Bank of Kuwait to stay well-informed about the latest methods employed in cyber fraud through the ‘Let's Be Aware’ campaign.

It is worth noting that KIB remains dedicated to promoting a secure banking environment, driven by its leading role in raising the community’s awareness about various aspects of the banking sector. As a main pillar within its comprehensive social responsibility program, the Bank continues to launch initiatives to promote financial literacy on a wide scale and actively participates in related events and campaigns, including the ‘Let's Be Aware’ campaign.