Sharon has been an
Iata agent for 21 years
processing an average of
R11m a month in ticket
sales and has never had
an issue like this. She
also now understands
that the same ITC
previously issued tickets
through a large Sandton
agency, which is also in
the process of suing the
ITC for another R800 000
in fraudulent transactions.
Sharon says the
incidents of cloned card
ticket fraud are growing
and all agencies are at
risk, particularly as no
industry training exists
on how to spot cloned
credit cards.
This incident has made
her determined to take
a stand on behalf of
the industry, and has
declared herself the
Travel Sheriff. She is
presently working with
several banks to create
a new technology that
will provide the industry
with 3D secure card
processing. Sharon has
committed to compiling
a directory of ITCs and
consultants that agency
owners should be wary of.
She will take note of any
consultants with pending
or convicted cases of
fraud opened against
them and says agencies
will soon be able to call
her for either a ‘green
light’ or a ‘red light’
response before signing
up an ITC or consultant.
“It is time to spring
clean the industry of these
skelms,” declares Sharon.
The biggest threats to
one’s Iata licence include:
• Your consultants being
unable to identify
cloned cards;
• Consultants or
ITCs with malicious
intentions against your
business;
• GDS systems allowing
override entries that
enable consultants to
manually enter credit
card authorisation
numbers.
Sharon is also speaking
to DIP about the
possibility of being able
to take out insurance
on credit card tickets
in addition to the cash
ticketing protection that
the programme currently
offers.
TNW understands that
an industry blacklist
named E-Watch was
previously being
compiled, however Asata
is not currently involved
with the programme due
to lack of support.
‘Clean the industry of these skelms!’
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