Bank shares tips to protect account
WHAT’S worse than getting your heart broken? Getting your bank account broken into!
Some individuals will spend time and effort in tugging at your heartstrings until you reveal your personal information. Then, they will use this to break into your bank account and steal your money.
They know all too well how to manipulate and take advantage of human sentiments during Valentine’s Day. In the United States alone, the Federal Trade
Commission reported about 21,000 incidents translating to financial losses worth $143 million in 2018, higher than the 8,500 or $33 million accounted for in 2015.
There are ways however, to protect you from these heartbreaking scams. Read up and learn what to do when you encounter them during love month.
Signed, sealed, delivered—to your inbox!
You may receive an SMS message from a de
livery service provider informing you that a bouquet or a Valentine’s gift is on its way to you. The message will include your name, an order tracking number, and a link to a website.
When clicked on, the delivery service provider’s website will open and request for your information to verify your identity so you can receive your delivery. It may also offer you a special gift after you put in your credit card number.
Love Note #1: Don’t click on those fake websites.
You may be attacked by a scammer using a fake website. A fake website is an exact replica of a legitimate and trusted company’s website. It is used to gather personal information, which scammers use to access and steal from bank accounts. When in doubt, visit the company’s official website.
To combat this kind of technique, often known as phishing, many companies, including banks like BDO, have refrained from sending messages with website links. Remember that BDO will never send you emails or SMS messages asking you to verify or validate your account. When in doubt, report to ReportPhish@bdo.com.ph.
How sweet it is to match with you!
You may have matched with someone on a dating app. Your match will have an impressive profile and spend time getting to know more about you.
If he deems you a good target, he will work hard to impress you and earn your trust. He will tell you about his educational background and source of income, which may be through a gainful employment or successful business.
When trust is estab
lished, he will reveal a money problem. It could range from a business deal gone wrong to a fatally ill relative. He will spin a
story based on his knowledge about you, whatever it takes to get your sympathy and compel you to offer financial help.