Why your e-wallet asks for a selfie

There is no single right answer here, but there are clear trade-offs. Knowing them makes the choice easier.

Keep your PIN and one-time codes to yourself. Support staff never need them, and nobody legitimate will ask.

The bottom line

Readers who wrote in described the same pattern again and again. Something small and convenient became part of the daily routine.

Turn on transaction alerts. A notification for every movement of money is the fastest way to catch a problem.

• Turn on alerts and notifications that matter.
• Write down dates, amounts and reference numbers.
• Give yourself a day before any big decision.
• Compare at least three options before committing.
• Ask someone you trust for a second opinion.

Common mistakes

Turn on transaction alerts. A notification for every movement of money is the fastest way to catch a problem.

We spoke with people on every side of the issue: the ones who started it, the ones affected by it and a few who are still not convinced.

Before you decide

Keep your PIN and one-time codes to yourself. Support staff never need them, and nobody legitimate will ask.

Keep your PIN and one-time codes to yourself. Support staff never need them, and nobody legitimate will ask.

It is easy to dismiss this as a passing trend. The people doing it every day see it differently, and their reasons are worth hearing.