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So you bank online? Then you know that you need a pin code and response code to guarantee safe banking. But what is the difference and why should you never share these codes with others?
PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. Your pin is a unique and personal 4-digit code that belongs to your bank card. You enter this every time you perform a transaction with your bank card and it is always the same.
If you use a card reader to access your digital banking environment or if you carry out transactions using a card reader, you must enter a response code. Your bank will ask you to enter certain codes (“challenge”) and your pin code on your card reader, after which your response code will appear on the screen of your card reader. This code is only valid for a limited time and is never the same.
Cybercriminals can try to steal your response codes to gain access to your online banking environment and carry out transactions on your behalf. Fraudsters sometimes mislead you by telling you not to share your PIN code with third parties, as this is dangerous. This is how they gain your trust. But afterwards they ask you to share your response code. This is equally dangerous.
So beware of people who pose as your bank or a trusted organization via telephone, text message, e-mail or social media and ask for your pin code or response codes. Never pass these codes!
It's simple: Never give your pin code and response codes for internet banking via e-mail, internet, social media, SMS or telephone. Your response codes are as secret as the pin code of your bank card.
Never go to your bank's payment site or mobile app via a link. Always type the address of your bank website in your browser yourself. You can also save the address in your browser's favorites list. Or open your bank's mobile app yourself.
If in doubt, you better stop. So if you received a somewhat strange message or telephone and you don't know what to do, stop everything.
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