NBK continues to raise awareness about fraud risks
Bank committed to educating customers about latest fraud techniques and ways to prevent them: Al-Mulla
KUWAIT CITY, April 8: Ensuring its customers are well aware of fraud risks and ways to protect themselves against possible threats, National Bank of Kuwait continues to run its awareness campaigns and provide customers with advice and guidance on fraud.
In that line, NBK intensified its efforts to raise awareness through various communication channels in which it provides instructions that aim to educate customers about the risks of theft and fraud that take place by employing tempting methods over the phone or online.
With the current circumstances amidst the global outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), third parties may take advantage of the situation or the decision to postpone loan installments and credit card payments for six months to obtain customers’ private information about their bank accounts. Therefore, customers must be alert at all times of suspicious emails, SMS or phone calls that ask for information related to their bank accounts, debit card, credit card or request immediate payments. NBK warns from sharing any type of information with anyone or any party, such as information related to bank accounts, credit and debit cards as well as the PIN code, CVV card verification code, account passwords for NBK Mobile Banking and NBK Online Banking and onetime passwords (OTP).
The bank has also warned its customers of suspicious attempts that are made via text messages, WhatsApp and the Viber app. These fraudulent methods delude customers to share private and sensitive information about their personal account in return of winning valuable financial prizes.
One of the fraudulent methods informs customers that their debit card has been blocked because they had not updated their personal information. They then request the customers’ phone number to unblock the card, giving them direct access to identify the customers’ data and steal their money by conducting online transactions or make transfers to intermediary accounts, passing money in and out of Kuwait and making it difficult to track and retrieve.
NBK requested customers to be vigilant of fraudulent operations made by hacking the emails of suppliers who deal with customers, whether individuals or companies. The bank stressed on the importance of being cautious at all times when obtaining information about the beneficiary account to make transfers and which includes the beneficiary’s name, account number, bank information and other via email.
The bank asked customers to consider requesting a confirmation of this information through other communication channels such as a phone call or SMS before submitting them to the bank and ensure they complete transfers with the correct information.
NBK stressed the importance of using its digital channels, which include NBK Corporate Online Banking or NBK Online Banking for individuals, when completing transfers instead of traditional methods such as having a company representative make transfers manually. Digital methods reduce a number of risks and avoid theft of transfer orders, counterfeited when a third party person modifies the beneficiary information, IBAN or account number to which the payment should be sent.
Transfers completed by a bank cannot be reversed and customers are fully responsible of the information being correct in the transfer orders, including the beneficiary information or other appendices supporting the transfer such as invoices and other documentations.
Commenting on the bank’s awareness campaigns, Ali Al-Mulla, Executive Manager, Consumer Banking Group, National Bank of Kuwait, said: “NBK is committed to educating its customers about the latest methods employed for fraud and ways to prevent them.”
Al-Mulla added: “Fraudulent parties are constantly seeking to bypass security measures by stealing personal information and obtaining private data. This is why at NBK, we ensure we are always close to our customers and provide them with the ways that protect them and their accounts from increasing suspicious operations that have claimed victims.”
Al-Mulla explains that new fraud methods have been introduced lately, some performed by phone and through which the customer is deluded to share private banking information in return of winning a prize. NBK has therefore intensified campaigns to educate customers and warn them of fraudulent text messages or phone calls requesting for their personal or financial information, and confirming that the bank will never request for their personal information. He added that scammers are taking advantage of the current situation to get access to customers’ information and advises customers to take precautions and never share their bank information with anyone.
He asked customers to immediately report any suspicion of fraud by calling 1801801 where an agent will assist them. NBK also requires customers to follow the bank’s social media channels where they can find information and instructions to guide them. They can also visit nbk.com to learn more about fraud methods and ways to prevent them.
NBK also held educative events for the community about the banking sector. The bank organized as well training courses for its employees to increase their knowledge and expertise in mitigating fraud operations and combating financial crimes.