Low cost airline Mango today issued a consumer advisory to all travellers introducing further security checks in an attempt to combat the increasing threat of credit card and sales fraud. Mango late last year also issued a consumer cautionary following fraudulent sales offers made via the internet and email. This article appeared in the Gauteng Business News recently.
As from 1 April, all Guests travelling on Mango whom have paid by credit card must present the transactional card on request. “We recommend that sponsored flights should be purchased using an alternative payment method,” says CEO Nico Bezuidenhout. “Whether it’s through using Edgars or Jet store account cards or alternatively, purchasing flights at Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper Money Market Kiosks or through Mango’s secure online debit facility.” He says that credit card fraud has increased substantially during the past 18 months and the new policy was designed to protect against fraudulent transactions.
PayGate has been a champion of a number of initiatives to work with the airlines on combatting airline fraud. Peter Harvey, MD of PayGate and an Internet Solutions Architect has a passion for fraud and risk management. He has founded and introduced a number of leading edge credit card processing fraud and risk management soutions which have been built into the PayGate offering.
Airlines such as Air Namibia are enjoying the benefits of PayProtector and other airline-specific internet-based ecommerce solutions managed by Gateway Management Services division of PayGate founded to serve large merchants in the reliable and secure processing of credit cards as an outsourced function so that they can focus on their core business of transporting people safely and cost-effectively.
PayGate works closely with the card associations, airline bodies and booking engines to enhance their internet payment options and maximise their uptime. According to Peter Harvey of PayGate "100% up time has become a non-negotiable in the payment gateway space".
Bezuidenhout also warned that new reports of fraudulent airline ticket sales have been noted. “There have been emails circulating again promising highly discounted fares on several carriers,” he says. “and despite cautionary statements released it seems that these unscrupulous operators are still in business.” He says that persons wishing to travel should book at airline approved channels such as airline websites, ASATA (Association of South African Travel Agents) member travel agents, call centres or in Mango’s case Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper Money Market Kiosks “If you are unsure, call the airline you wish to travel with.”
Mango’s policy on credit card transactions takes effect on 1 April 2009.
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