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Strengthened Mobile Payment Authentication in Taiwan Curbs Fraud and Scams

In response to rising concerns about credit card data breaches leading to fraudulent activities, Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) is taking decisive steps to fortify the security of mobile payments. Many individuals have fallen victim to scams involving compromised credit card information, with fraudsters exploiting this data to engage in unauthorized transactions or unauthorized loading of funds through mobile payment platforms like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The Banking Association has communicated with card-issuing institutions, directing them to ensure that requests to link credit cards with mobile payments are rigorously verified, permitting approval only if the linking device matches the one used for card application.

The FSC, in its efforts to mitigate the risk of unauthorized mobile transactions and uphold the ethical obligations of credit card providers while safeguarding cardholders' rights, has reached out to various banks with a call to enhance identity verification mechanisms when linking mobile devices with credit cards. Furthermore, it has requested that notification mechanisms be put in place upon successful linking. These directives, intended to ensure heightened security, must be implemented across all credit card banks and institutions within a span of six months.

To elaborate, when a cardholder seeks to link their credit card to mobile payment services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, these internationally recognized platforms will furnish pertinent binding information to credit card issuers. Subsequently, when card-issuing banks receive requests to link cards to mobile payment accounts, they are obligated to verify that the mobile number provided matches the original number held on file. Only upon successful verification of this correspondence will the linking process be completed. In cases where a different mobile number is involved, the bank must engage in direct communication with the cardholder and ensure the legitimacy of the request before proceeding.

Banking industry experts assert that this double-layered authentication process significantly diminishes the likelihood of credit cards being tethered to deceptive mobile devices controlled by fraudulent entities. While this measure is a powerful deterrent against scams, it is anticipated to increase the volume of customer service inquiries at banks.

Furthermore, industry insiders highlight that most modern smartphone models incorporate mechanisms that transmit their phone numbers automatically. However, exceptions exist, such as certain Samsung devices which might lack this particular feature. Consequently, following the update of identity verification protocols by banks, individuals using Samsung smartphones for international mobile payments may necessitate manual verification through customer service.

Notably, Mega Bank has emerged as the first domestic bank to enhance mobile payment identity verification mechanisms. As of the 8th, customers seeking to link their Mega Bank credit cards to platforms like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Garmin Pay are required to match their mobile phone numbers with the bank's original records. Initial tests have revealed that when attempting to link Mega Bank credit cards to Google Pay using Samsung devices, manual verification is imperative. While this adds an additional step, it has effectively eradicated instances of fraudulent activity over the past two days.

At the conclusion of the article, a three-column table is provided, summarizing the key aspects in a concise manner:

Category Key Points Explanation
Security Enhancement - Strengthened mobile payment verification.<br>- Requirement for matching mobile device numbers.<br>- Notification mechanism implementation. Taiwan's FSC mandates a comprehensive security boost to mobile payment systems. Linking credit cards now requires consistent mobile device verification, further secured by a notification system.
Fraud Prevention - Double-layered authentication process.<br>- Effective deterrent against fraudulent mobile devices. The two-step verification significantly reduces the risk of credit card associations with deceitful mobile platforms controlled by fraudulent entities.
Technological Challenges - Inherent smartphone mechanisms for automatic phone number transmission.<br>- Exception in devices like certain Samsung smartphones. While most smartphones automatically transmit their numbers, exceptions, like some Samsung devices, may necessitate manual verification through customer service.

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