A message appearing to be from your bank. A loan offer that seems too good to ignore. Or a social-media page that looks completely genuine. Scammers are increasingly using such tactics to gain people’s trust and steal money. Recently, a bank lost around Nu 2 M to scams within a span of just 12 days. Authorities are now cautioning customers to verify before sharing any information.
An advertisement pops up while you are scrolling. It looks familiar. The bank name and logo appear genuine.
But before clicking that link or replying to the message, there is one question customers should ask.
Is it really your bank?
Banks say customers should first verify whether the account or page contacting them is legitimate.
On social media, customers can look for signs such as verification badges, number of followers, and its regular activity.
Because a familiar logo or a convincing-looking page does not necessarily mean the person behind it is genuine.
And when it comes to sensitive information, banks say they never ask customers to share their OTP or password.
Banks say they already have customers’ account information. If they genuinely require additional information, they announce it through legitimate channels such as their official social media pages and direct messages in customers’ phone number.
So, what should you do if you receive or see something suspicious?
Contact the bank through its official channel and verify whether the message or offer is genuine.
And if you believe you have already been scammed, police say you can contact them to lodge a complaint, or contact your bank to verify what has happened.
If an account needs to be frozen, police say customers can do so after the incident is verified with the bank and the banks acknowledge it as a scam.
With scammers increasingly using digital platforms to appear legitimate, banks and police are reminding customers that the safest approach is to stop, verify, and then act.
Deki Lhazom
