A new wave of “smishing” cyberattacks (fraud through phone messages) has set financial institutions in motion in the country.
Raiffeisen Bank has issued an urgent appeal to all its customers, warning them to beware of fraudulent mobile phone messages that aim to steal personal data and bank accounts.
According to the bank’s official announcement, the criminals are using the name of the institution to send SMS where the data update is urgently requested, under the pretext of avoiding the suspension of services.
How does the scam work?
Security experts clarify that the attack follows a well-thought-out scenario:
• Urgent SMS: The customer receives a message asking him to act quickly.
• Trap link: The message contains a link that the victim is invited to click.
• Data theft: After clicking the link, the user is asked to enter the card number, personal details and one-time-use codes (OTP).
• Account Access: Once the customer submits these codes, the attacker gains full access to carry out unauthorized financial transactions and transfers.
Safety instructions: What should you do?
The bank has listed some critical steps that citizens should follow to protect their money:
• Do not click on any link sent to you via SMS. Always enter the official address of the online bank manually.
• Never share card details or security codes sent to your mobile phone.
• Report any suspicious communications immediately.
For any case where it is suspected that the data has been compromised or if you have mistakenly clicked on these links, Raiffeisen Bank instructs you to contact the bank immediately.
