Beyond the usual precautions to take when conducting bank transactions through digital channels, you should:

• Install payment apps through official app stores only. Not all apps are safe: some may contain malicious software;
• Carefully analyse the payment apps’ reviews. When in doubt, contact your payment service provider;
• Check the data access permissions required by payment apps. Do not download apps if the permissions required seem excessive;
• Check, on the payment service provider’s website, the information about the app you wish to download and follow the configuration instructions given;
• Create a password to access the app that is difficult for third parties to appropriate. Do not use passwords that are too obvious, such as 123456, or associated with easily obtainable personal information, as are birth dates or names.
• Refrain from sharing the payment app password or transaction authentication codes with third parties. If the device allows it, favour biometric authentication elements (for example, fingerprint or facial recognition), which third parties are unable to appropriate;
• Verify which authentication elements are solicited in each access to the payment app and be suspicious of requests for additional information;
• Read all the information provided in the notifications carefully before authorising the transaction;
• Ensure the payment app password and other authentication elements are entered somewhere offering some degree of privacy;
• Make sure the session was ended correctly after using the payment app and that it is necessary to login to access it again;
• Add only your phone number when signing up to a payment app (the MBWay app, for example);
• Contact the payment service provider immediately if you receive a notification about an unfamiliar transaction;
• Report to the payment service provider, as soon as possible, the loss, theft or misappropriation of the payment card or of the payment app’s access credentials;
• Cancel the payment app or deactivate/remove the account/payment card from the stolen/lost device, in case of theft or loss of the mobile device (smartphone, tablet or smartwatch) in which the payment app is installed.