CUSTOMERS who lose money to Internet bank hackers have a legal right to be refunded by the bank, a leading lawyer said this week.

Reinhard Buys, who runs a law firm that specialises in Internet security, said South Africa's Electronic Communications and Transactions Act - which came into effect last year - forces banks and other businesses offering online payment systems to refund customers if it can be proved they did not provide a safe service.


His comments follow a series of scandals involving Internet banking security. Several Absa customers lost tens of thousands from their accounts, allegedly to a hacker.

Last week, the Sunday Times demonstrated through a computer expert how easily the latest online security measures could be foiled. Buys said, in terms of the law, businesses would be liable for all damages resulting from unsafe online payment systems. "Banks, for instance, won't be able to get out of it by having customers sign a non- liability document as Section 48 of the Act makes it very clear that the refund clause is cast in stone."

He said the act also stipulated that "Terms and Conditions", normally placed at the bottom of websites, should be in a prominent position at the top of the page, clearly readable and printable.

Meanwhile, South Africa's major banks scrambled to reassure their customers that their Internet banking services were safe.

Jacko Maree, chief executive of Standard Bank, assured customers his bank's services were secure. He said the bank had introduced a new security measure that used a scrambled keypad technique.

Absa has a new password verification system.

The head of FNB Internet Banking, Roland le Sueur, said: "We have always promised you that our Internet banking is safe and easy to use, and I would like to reassure you of your online security at FNB." - Edwin Lombard

source: allafrica


The wise make mistakes, the fools repeat them
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When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however improbable, must be the truth