Nigerian bank raises alarm over rising account attacks, reveals what customers must do
By Aboki Forex —
Access Bank has warned customers about rising fraud risks linked to fake promotions, shopping deals and digital transactions. The bank urged customers never to share their OTP, PIN, CVV or card details to claim any offer.
The warning comes as Nigerians increase their use of digital payment channels for shopping, travel and other transactions. With heightened spending during the peak travel and shopping season, the bank says fraudsters have more opportunities to target unsuspecting customers.
Fraud alert on fake offers
In a fraud-prevention alert, Access Bank specifically warned against sharing One-Time Passwords, Card Verification Values, Personal Identification Numbers or card details to claim promotions.
“Never share your OTP, CVV, PIN or card details to claim any offer,” the bank said.
According to the lender, customers should be suspicious of unsolicited messages offering discounts, gift cards, promotions or other benefits, particularly when such offers require confidential banking credentials. Fraudsters often disguise themselves as banks, retailers or trusted businesses and use attractive offers to steal information that can be used to access accounts or carry out unauthorised transactions.
Steps to protect your account
Access Bank reminded customers that they can block their accounts from any phone by dialling 901911# if they suspect their banking information has been compromised.
Customers can also contact Tamada, Access Bank’s 24-hour virtual banking assistant, through the Access More application. To use the service, customers should log into Access More, select “Support” and then click on “Chat with Tamada”.
The bank advised customers to rely on its official channels when verifying suspicious messages, instead of responding to unsolicited requests.
What this means for consumers
Fraudsters may use fake promotions, phishing messages, impersonation and other tactics to obtain sensitive information. Banks have consistently advised customers to keep their OTPs, PINs, CVVs and card details private, since these credentials can be used to authenticate transactions or gain access to financial accounts.
For consumers shopping or travelling during the busy season, the message from Access Bank is clear: attractive offers should be verified through official channels, while any request for an OTP, PIN, CVV or card details should be treated as a potential fraud attempt.