Credit card fraud has been solved

The Neo Africa Secure Solution, a world-first combination of pre-paid travel cards, mobile phones and services, is to offer enhanced safety and convenience services to foreign visitors to South Africa.

The Neo Africa Secure Solution, which uses world-first mobile card activation technology developed in South Africa, is an innovative package that comprises a mobile phone handset and pre-paid travel card, bundled with safety and concierge services. There are several options available, from an economy package through to a premium package targeting the needs of the VIP.

The Neo Africa Secure Solution is supported by MasterCard, Vodacom and Standard Bank, ensuring a product that is of the highest quality, reliability and convenience, as well as being supported by credible globally recognised brands.

The Neo Africa Secure Solution package has the following innovative features:

• A pre-paid travel card in local currency makes managing a travel budget easier and does away with fluctuating currency exchange rates
• Cardholders have complete control over their card, which cannot be used without the linked mobile phone. Travellers are able to switch their debit card on and off using the mobile phone. By default, the card will automatically switch off after every transaction – rendering it unusable to anyone other than the authorised cardholder should it be lost, stolen or even cloned
• An affordable pre-paid mobile handset and local SIM card, approved for use on local mobile networks and offering local call rates
• An optional handset upgrade to a full qwerty-keyboard phone, with built-in TV and dual SIM capability. This allows the use of a roaming GSM SIM in the same handset at the same time
• The mobile phones offer a series of one-touch features which include switching the card on and off, reloading both the card and the mobile phone airtime, a balance check, and instant access to Neo Africa’s concierge and emergency services
• The mobile phones offer an integrated tracking service, allowing Neo Africa to locate the traveller in case of emergency. Depending on the package, this also includes active monitoring by our emergency call centre and a courtesy call should the traveller stray into an unsafe, red-flagged area. Web-based tracking is also available on select packages
• The traveller receives a text notification on the mobile handset not only when a card transaction is successful, but also when a transaction is blocked – informing the cardholder of all use of the card, whether fraudulently attempted or simply a reminder that they have forgotten to activate their card for that particular transaction
• Customer services are provided locally by our friendly call centre and at our strategically located walk-in centres. Packages or replacement cards can also be delivered directly to the traveller’s hotel
• The pre-paid travel card and mobile phone may be used long-term

“Worldwide card fraud continues to grow exponentially, despite the very best efforts and the use of advanced technologies. Fraudsters are highly sophisticated and find ways around even the newer, smart cards that still have a magnetic stripe on them, making the cards vulnerable – and fraudsters know all the tricks,” says Craig Kilfoil, Neo Africa Secure Solutions Executive.

“Typically, fraud prevention has been the bank’s problem and more often than not trying to identify and stop fraud has been guesswork at best. As a result, the cardholder is inconvenienced both when fraud slips through and when legitimate transactions are declined as a security precaution. Now, we’re putting the knowledge (of transactions) with the person who knows best – the cardholder. The Neo Africa Secure Solution gives the cardholder complete control over their card. The Neo Africa Secure Solution system accurately prevents fraud because a transaction cannot take place without the cardholder first switching on the card with the mobile phone,” says Kilfoil.

“This dependable, reliable technology will revolutionise payments worldwide. It is already capable of allowing cardholders to manage their own card permissions per country; to selectively allow ATM withdrawals, merchant purchases and even to specifically allow a single Internet e-commerce transaction. Importantly, the technology can detect and stop fraud where the new chip card has been issued incorrectly and swiped at a merchant point-of-sale,” says Neo Africa founder and CEO Vivien Natasen

“Neo Africa is a company that is in the business of finding innovative answers to complex problems, and we believe by giving the cardholder complete power over their own card, this South African invention will change the way people do their banking – and make credit card fraud, a multi-billion dollar problem the world over, virtually obsolete.

“We are offering visitors to this country much greater peace of mind in terms of their personal and financial security, services such as a full concierge offering, and emergency assistance – all in a one-stop, very affordable package,” says Natasen.

The Neo Africa Secure Solution is available in three packages, including:

• The Economy package, costing R700 ($95)
• The Corporate package, costing R950 ($125)
• The Premium package, costing R3500 ($450)

Orders can be placed at www.neoafricasecure.com.

To view the Neo Africa Secure Solution video, please visit www.youtube.com/user/NeoAfricaAdmin#p/a/u/0/Is8kFayziFI.

Visitors to South Africa will be able to receive their package immediately upon their arrival in the country, at special Neo Africa Secure Solution kiosks situated at South Africa’s major airports or at outlets and mobile delivery points around the country. Packages will be available from 1 June 2010.

For further information, please contact Edward Mahlasela on +27 (0)73 465 5001 or +27 (0)11 022 9711, or by e-mail on  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information about the Neo Africa Secure Solution, please visit www.neoafricasecure.com.