Abstract

Card payments in South Africa continue to be a predominant part of the National Payments System in an evolving payments ecosystem. Due to the growing volume of electronic payments, the monetary strain of credit card fraud is turning into a substantial challenge for financial institutions and service providers, thus forcing them to continuously improve their fraud detection systems. This article attempts to explain the Modus Operandi (MO) of perpetrators of credit card fraud in the Vaal Region in South Africa. The article begins with an examination of the extent of the challenge and response by the relevant stakeholders, especially the Criminal Justice System (CJS). This study was carried out utilising a qualitative research approach with a convenience, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thirty-nine (39) interviews were conducted to solicit the views of the participants and police investigators from Vanderbijlpark, Sebokeng, Sharpeville and Vereeniging police stations, members of the community, and victims of credit card fraud were interviewed. These interviews were analysed according to the phenomenological approach, aided with the inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) to identify the participants’ responses and themes. The findings indicated that the extent of credit card fraud in Vaal region is reaching alarming rates. Based on the findings, the authors provided recommendations such as: police investigators being taken for regular workshops and training on how to investigate sophisticated methods used by perpetrators such as technology, awareness in the society about credit card fraud should be prioritised and enhanced.

摘要

在不断发展的支付生态系统中，南非的卡支付仍然是国家支付系统的主要部分。由于电子支付的数量不断增加，信用卡欺诈带来的资金压力正成为金融机构和服务提供商面临的重大挑战，从而迫使他们不断改进欺诈检测系统。本文试图解释南非瓦尔地区信用卡欺诈犯罪者的作案手法 (MO)。本文首先考察了相关利益相关者，尤其是刑事司法系统 (CJS) 所面临的挑战和应对的程度。本研究是利用定性研究方法和便利、有目的的和滚雪球抽样技术进行的。进行了三十九 (39) 次采访，以征求参与者和 Vanderbijlpark、Sebokeng、Sharpeville 和 Vereeniging 警察局的警方调查人员、社区成员和信用卡欺诈受害者的意见。这些访谈根据现象学方法进行分析，并辅以归纳主题内容分析 (TCA)，以确定参与者的反应和主题。调查结果表明，瓦尔地区的信用卡欺诈程度达到了惊人的程度。基于调查结果，作者提出了一些建议，例如：警方调查人员应定期参加研讨会和培训，了解如何调查犯罪者使用的复杂方法（如技术），应优先考虑并提高社会对信用卡欺诈的认识。