(SINGAPORE 24) - A total of 26 OCBC Bank customers lost about S$140,000 (about RM420,000) to phishing SMS scams from 8 to 17 this month, after fraudsters posing as OCBC Bank Singapore sent out SMS messages, falsely claiming that there was a problem with their bank accounts or credit cards and asking them to enter their bank details and passwords on a fake website.
According to a statement issued by OCBC Bank Singapore today, the number of phishing SMS scams in the past few weeks. Customers receive SMS messages from scammers posing as OCBC Bank, claiming that there is a problem with their bank accounts or credit cards. The SMS contains a link to a webpage disguised as the bank’s website, asking customers to enter their banking information and passwords on the fake website.
The bank said they have never sent a similar text message. For the avoidance of doubt and to prevent fraud, all notifications of account closures or requests for account activation are mailed to customers via paper mail, not cell phone text messages.
The bank reminds that bank accounts become dormant after 12 months of inactivity and can be reactivated by customers at branches or online banking.
For customers who have been defrauded, the bank is working with the Singapore Police Force Anti-Fraud Centre in an effort to help customers recover their lost money. Nonetheless, the bank cautions that once the money leaves the customer’s account, the chances of recovery are very low.
The statement revealed that since December, the bank has detected and taken down 45 phishing websites, about eight times the usual number.
OCBC Bank Singapore reminded customers not to click on emails or SMS with suspicious links, but to enter the bank’s official website address directly into their browser or use the mobile app; not to divulge confidential information to anyone or on unverified websites; not to transfer money to people they do not know; and to use the anti-fraud app ScamShield to block fraudulent SMS and calls.
The bank said that if customers have any concerns about the SMS, they can call 1800-363-3333 for confirmation.
source: orientaldaily