[Warning & Prevention] Frauds in banking transactions

Recently, taking advantage of the difficult economic situation during the epidemic and customers in the blockade area who have increased demand for online transactions, fraudsters have reach them, to steal security information for either money in the card account or damage the bank's reputation.
On purpose of raising awareness of fraud trends currently, we’d like to inform you on new fraud methods and some recommendations for safe card transactions.

1.  Common types of scams

-    Fraudsters impersonate bank staff to call customers to verify accounts, check balances or transactions. Simultaneously, they request customers to provide security information such as card numbers, OTP codes, etc., thereby appropriating money in customers' accounts.
-    Fraudsters transfer a small amount of money to the customer's account, then impersonate the bank to call or send a text message (displaying the bank's brand name), inform on unusual transactions and instruct customers to confirm information, provide password... through the fake link attached in the message.
-    Fraudsters set up websites/social networks impersonating the bank's brand; or use a personal phone via chat (Zalo) pretending to be relationship manager, to attend customer’s queries on banking products and services and support to answer. The fraudsters’ purpose is to gain trust, then collect personal information, transaction history and bank accounts.
-    Fraudsters contact to offer cash advance service via credit card with preferential fee and request customer to provide: photo of front and back of Card and ID card, OTP code sent to registered phone and ID card; then, use the OTP to complete an online transaction without the Cardholder's permission. After successful payment, customer gets amount transferred to his personal account. However, the actual amount received is much less than the amount that was previously debited on the card.
-    Fraudsters impersonate Heads of State, such as: Prime Minister, Ministry of Health,... send emails directing and guiding epidemic prevention and control, encouraging visits ... Since then, guide customers to access the links and codes embedded in the messages to register for vaccinations, receive financial and medical support from the Government, thereby taking control of their Bank accounts. 
-    Fraudsters impersonates employees of telecommunications companies request customers to upgrade current sim to 4G sim, switch carriers to receive great incentives... Then seize and withdraw money from the bank account.

2. How to avoid scams
Please refer to some of our recommendations to keep card account information secured and use safely:

-    Do not provide information/pictures with card information including: card number, card PIN, CVC2/ CVV2 (03 numbers on the back of the card), expiration date, OTP code... to anyone else, including bank staffs.
-    Be careful when accessing links sent from messages/emails even in case of bank branding to avoid accessing fake links from messages/emails impersonating the bank.
Note: Do not provide information when receiving calls from a person who introduce himself as bank staff. If required to contact the Cardholder, VIB commits to use the following phone numbers: 028.62877799, 028.730.62222, 024.627.60068, 024.625.85858, 024.730.33683, 028.625.05088, 024.730.05525, 028.730.05678 only.
-    Lock online payment function on MyVIB application when there is no need to make transactions online.
-    Update email/phone number to receive timely transaction information alerts.
-    Regularly change PIN, password and absolutely do not save account/card information on browsers when transacting. Log out of customer’s account immediately after completing the trading session.
-    Cover the keyboard when entering PIN during transactions at ATM, POS and other card payment devices.
-    In case customer have provided card information to a criminal or detected an unusual transaction, customer can access MyVIB or contact VIB via Hotline 1800 8195 to immediately lock your card and replace it with a new secure card.

Sincerely thank you for always trusting, and using VIB's products and services.

Best regards,
Vietnam International Bank (VIB)