Beware of banking sector fraudsters—Cyber Security Authority

Accra, Nov 16, GNA – The Ghana Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has cautioned the citizenry against fraudulent schemes in the banking sector claiming to keep customers’ money safe.  

The caution comes after the Authority had received several reports and observed people on various social media platforms posing as agents of banks and demanding access to the bank details of unsuspecting citizens to defraud them. 

The Authority, through a press release, copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, November 16, asked the public to beware of the operations of the fraudsters. 

It explained that the supposed agents of the banks usually reached out to customers and requested for their Personal Identifiable Information (PPI), including Ghana Card details. 

The release said they also requested for the Primary Account Numbers (PAN) of debit/credit card Verification Value (CV) numbers, expiry date of the cards, and One Time Password (OTP), telling customers that they would be used as part of the linking process. 

The CSA, therefore, advised the public to desist from sharing their personal identification information, including pin codes to prevent them from falling prey to the fraudsters. 

It noted that sharing such details enabled the fraudsters to have access to and make illegal transactions on the accounts of the victims without their knowledge. 

“Never share personal identifiable information, including pinholes, debit or credit cards verification values (CVVS) and OTPs with anyone. Any form of suspicious acts of such, one can visit or call the nearest bank branch for clarifications if in doubt,” the Authority encouraged. 

The CSA also urged the public to make use of the Cyber security/Cybercrime Incident Reporting Points of Contact (POC) any time of the day to report cybercrime cases and for education on online activities for their safety. 

GNA