ONLINE BANKING: 7 signs that caller is a confirmed scammer
By Tolulope Adigun
Online banking has made life easy for a lot of Nigerians. It has brought comfort to those who use it.
Unfortunately, scammers continually target online bankers. They use all kinds of tricks to make people spill vital bank details so they could access their accounts and steal their hard earned money.
The scammers give a shabby introduction of themselves and use a “surface drift” to get their victim’s account details.
An audio making the rounds on WhatsApp gives clues as to how one can recognise a scammer. The audio seems to be a recording of a phone conversation between a scammer and his target.
LISTEN: That caller is a scammer!
Summarised from the audio are 7 indications that the bank “customer agent” calling your phone is actually someone who want’s to steal your money.
1. “Mr Felix from Diamond Online”. That’s a shabby introduction of himself and the bank he represents.
2. No names are mentioned. He doesn’t know or mention the name of the account holder. He’s trying his luck to see if the target will spill her names.
3. The call is placed from a personal phone. Banks will usually call with dedicated official lines.
4. No actual account details are mentioned by the so called bank representative. Your bank knows your account details.
5. There’s inconsistency in the information they are passing across. Odd.
6. When there are mentions of emails and codes, and threats of blocking ones account. They use the threats to throw their targets off balance so they could give whatever information they’re asked to give. Don’t fall for it.
7. When the bank customer service representatives can’t give their job description and a reference number. It’s a scammer!
Besides, your bank will never ask for sensitive details like ATM card number, PIN, online banking password during a phone call.If any bank agent request such, simply tell them you’ll visit your branch to give the details.
NEVER…NEVER…release such information to ANYONE via phone call..
