18th September, 2013
Some banks in Lagos on Tuesday warned customers not to respond to requests for their personal bank details over the Internet, telephone or in person.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Francis Barde, Head, Corporate Affairs Department, Union Bank, said that more people were now getting scam e-mails than before.
Barde said that “scammers” were taking advantage of changes in electronic banking transactions to dupe unsuspecting customers of their money.
“More people are embracing the e-payment system which is popularly known as cashless policy.
“As a bank, steps have been taken to protect customers and secure their transactions.
“It has become part of our policy to often inform our customers not to share their personal bank details with a third party.
“Also, customers should be wary of any email or Website that requires them to fill forms that require their personal identification numbers, passwords or security codes,” he said.
Mr Ramon Nasir, Head, Media Relations Unit, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Marina, said that many of the e-mail scams looked real for an ignorant and unsuspecting customer.
According to Nasir, there are many types of scams with the sole aim of stealing customers’ account, information number and money.
“UBA Plc has taken steps to secure and protect its customers against cyber crimes and other forms of e-banking threats.
“The drive towards a cashless economy has necessitated that we put in place systems and processes that would protect our customers.
“Customers get periodic e-mails warning them to ignore e-mail and messages that request to share their personal banking details,” he said.