Ecobank Alerts Customers on Rise in SIM Swap Fraud
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Customers of Ecobank Nigeria have been urged to remain on the alert as some scammers are taking advantage of SIM swaps to dupe their unsuspecting victims.
The financial institution issued this alert in an email message to customers, urging them not to lose guard.
The bank said phone users, who attached their mobile numbers to their bank accounts, to take extra caution when swapping their SIM cards, so as not to be victims of fraudsters.
The lender explained to customers that SIM swap fraud occurs when scammers use your phone number to access your accounts.
“Scammers impersonate you and trick your mobile phone’s carrier into activating a SIM card, which gives them control over your phone number.
“It means scammers could potentially enter your username and password when logging onto your online banking platform and then receive the SMS verification code to access your account.
“Protect yourself against SIM swaps, and don’t share personal information that fraudsters could use to impersonate you (such as your mother’s maiden name or birthplace) on social media.
“Never reveal your logins and passwords for your mobile phone, online bank, or credit card accounts to anyone. Please always report any suspicious activity,” the message said.
Further, the Pan African bank reminded the customers that the bank will not ask them to provide their personal or financial information, stressing that when they receive an email that includes a link to a website, they should ensure that the website is legitimate before visiting the site.
Ecobank further, urged customers not to respond to emails, SMS and unsolicited calls from people they don’t know asking for your personal or banking information.
