Bank customers warned of email scams amid coronavirus spread
Bank customers warned of email scams amid coronavirus spread
Banks in Vietnam have requested customers not to open suspicious emails or click on dubious links sent as email attachments related to the coronavirus, where they are asked to enter online banking information.
As concern over the coronavirus outbreak grows, information on the virus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, and measures to stay free of the disease have been sent to bank customers frequently by email, text message or social media.
Scammers have taken advantage of these activities to deliver malicious emails to customers or use phishing emails to harvest their personal data, reported VietnamPlus newspaper.
These kinds of malicious emails and text messages feature subjects and contents related to the disease, asking users to click on attached links.
On clicking the link or opening the email or message, the user’s system could get infected with malware and have its data stolen.
In other cases, hackers can steal money by asking users to provide e-banking information.
Commenting on the issue, technology experts at Maritime Bank (MSB) said MSB and other credit institutions never ask customers to provide their passwords under any circumstances.
Accordingly, MSB customers should follow the given advice to avoid the ploys of hackers and only access the bank’s official channels at http://ebank.msb.com.vn or http://msb.com.vn.
If customers discover their bank card or internet banking information has been disclosed, they should contact bank hotlines for immediate assistance.
According to a Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VPBank) representative, VPBank sends a one-time password to their customers’ registered phone numbers or email addresses when they log into their bank accounts on a new device. Customers should not reveal the code to anyone, especially imposters posing as bank staff, if they receive a code without attempting to log in.
