While the use of PINs are common these days with home alarms, phonebanking, you always need to be careful to ensure that they are not disclosed. Below are some helpful hints for you.

* Your PIN should not be easily guessed or identified as related to you or an obvious combination of numbers (eg birth date).

* Your PIN shoud not be stored anywhere in written or electronic form.

* Phonebet. If you are using the phone in a public space, make sure you are discreet when you call out your PIN.

* Internet. If you are using the internet on a machine that is not your usual point of access, be careful that no one is looking over your shoulder and also that you trust that it is a secure machine.

* Touch Tone. If you are using Touch Tone, you need to be aware that in certain situations the digits pushed can be read by others. For example:

- If you are not at your own home, some phones have the function to display the most recently dialled numbers (including all numbers pushed after the "call" has started)

- Some businesses such as hotels are still on older phone systems that will record all digits pushed (so that details can be recorded on invoices).

If you are unsure about using a phone that is not your own, we recommend that you do not use Touchtone.

NB. If your PIN is compromised, this means that someone can place bets with the funds in your account.

It does not mean that they can make a withdrawal as identification is still required when completing a withdrawal at a TAB.