BANKING institutions have issued a warning to the public to be extra careful against fraudulent scams in operation during this Covid-19 crisis. Banks said cybercriminals are targeting scared and vulnerable people as Covid-19 deepens, asking for their personal information to steal their hard-earned money.
“It has come to the attention of the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) that there have been emails going around informing clients of account deactivation and asking clients to click on a link to prevent deactivation due to Covid-19. We would like to advise against doing so since it will compromise your account security,” the BAP said, in a statement.
According to the organization, “these emails are forms of phishing wherein personal and sensitive information will be asked in order to gain control of your accounts.”
“Banks will never request for your sensitive information,” the group stressed.
BDO, through its official Facebook page, warned its clients against fraudulent offers.
“As BDO updates its bank services to adjust to your present needs, we urge you to be vigilant against scammers who promise 60-day loan payment extensions in exchange for your personal information. BDO will never ask for these details,” the Sy-led bank said.
BDO said its officers will never ask for personal information that will compromise their clients’ bank account.
“Even a total lockdown won’t stop the scammers from trying. But they can’t touch your account as long as you don’t click their phishing links in their fake emails and fake texts, and give away your login details and one-time password (OTP). Stay safe from the scammers, too,” BDO said.
The bank also warned its customers about emails threatening account holders of deactivation due to alleged inactivity as fraudsters seek to capitalize on the heightened public anxiety during this depressing time. Offers like “cash assistance” that are made by fake bank pages are also spreading.
BDO advised its clients not to click on any link from unverified pages and emails.
“Remember to look for the blue verified checkmark from Facebook to know if you’re talking to your bank,” it said.
BPI, on the other hand, encouraged its clients to be more cyber-secure, and use the bank’s security features.
BPI chief digital officer Noel Santiago said more people now have adopted to digital ways of doing things. Digital banking has helped people cope with the difficult situation, and depositors are thus equipped to manage their finances.
“This has become the new normal. We hope people would continue to appreciate and utilize the value of transacting via online and mobile apps, even after Covid-19,” Santiago said.
Given the digital adoption, BPI said it has placed a premium on providing a safe and secure banking experience for its clients. Part of this is to regularly remind clients to be cybersafe, and be extra vigilant in protecting their information and accounts.
“We’re empowering our clients to be more secure. But again, we must also do our part. We need to have a mindset of vigilance so that we don’t fall for scams. We will never ask for confidential info via email, text messages or phone calls. Most especially, we will never ask you to share with us your password or OTP. Remember that being cybersafe is everyone’s responsibility,” said Santiago.
To protect clients from similar cybersecurity threats, the BAP advised the banking public to ignore any suspicious emails, calls or text messages and to report them to banks immediately. It also asked the public to protect their passwords either by changing them regularly, and to avoid using a shared network or a shared computer since these may be traced back or attract nearby hackers.
As a layer of protection, the BAP also reminded the public that banks have incorporated two-factor authentication among other safety measures on all bank account-related transactions online. (JOB with KOC)