Picture this: you just received a call from Kate, a representative from your credit card provider, who shares that you just won PHP 50,000 from a promo. While you don’t remember joining anything, this got you excited! As part of their protocol, Kate then asks you to share your credit card number, CVV, and later, a One-Time Pin (OTP), to help validate your identity. Will you give her your personal data to claim the reward?
If your answer is no, you made the right choice because this is 100% a vishing, or “voice phishing” scam – which is a common tactic for credit card fraud. Through this, scammers who sound like legitimate representatives of trusted organizations, call customers to entice them to divulge their sensitive personal information. Their messages are designed to elicit a sense of urgency, panic, or excitement so their victims will be inclined to share sensitive data immediately, which will later be used to conduct fraudulent transactions on their financial account.
Scams are now becoming more and more sophisticated. And as fraudsters think of smarter ways to trick customers, Metrobank equips you with the right knowledge to help protect yourself from fraud. Check out these useful tips from Metrobank:
- When in doubt, hang up ASAP!
Always verify calls coming from unknown numbers claiming to be a representative of an institution, especially your bank. When in doubt, hang up and directly call the company they claim to represent through the hotlines listed on their official pages.
- Keep your personal information to yourself
This includes your financial information, credit card details, and One-Time Pin (OTP). When a caller claiming to be from a bank asks for your One-Time Pin (OTP), this is an immediate red flag and a sign to end the conversation. Legitimate employees from banks and similar companies will never ask for this information.
If you’re a Metrobank customer, enabling the AppKey feature on your Metrobank app can help make your transactions more secure. This safety feature utilizes your biometrics, or your fingerprint or facial recognition, to confirm transactions, instead of One-Time Pins (OTP).
- Be wary of promos that are too good to be true
Be vigilant about callers pressuring you to accept a promo or offer in exchange of a cash reward or extravagant prize. While there are offers that are actually legitimate, be wary – especially if they require sharing your personal or bank information.
- Block and report to authorities
When you get a suspicious call, block the number right away and report it to authorities. If you are a Metrobank client, make sure to immediately contact Metrobank’s Hotline at (02) 88-700-700 to report the incident and do any precautionary measures needed.
By following these tips, you can protect yourself from sneaky vishing scams. Check out more guides to help you combat fraud on lifebanking.ph. Stay safe!
