Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has warned members of the public to be vigilant when receiving calls or short messaging services (SMS), requesting for personal banking information.The callers and SMS often claim to be from the central bank or other commercial banks.
BNM in a statement today said that there is no department called “Unit Kad Kredit Palsu” within it, nor does it have the telephone number, 8659-XXXX.
BNM also stated that it never requests’ for personal banking information through the SMS or telephone calls.
BNM said that based on recent complaints received, there had been an increase in incidents of fraudsters making such calls and SMS to unknowing members of the public to fraudulently obtain their personal banking information, with the aim of siphoning monies from accounts.
From the central bank’s investigations, the modus operandi of the scam is as follows:
- The victim receives SMS or telephone call requesting to confirm a credit card transaction for the purchase of goods or services purportedly charged to the individuals credit card.
- When the victim calls the telephone number provided in the SMS, the fraudsters identify themselves as agents of a commercial bank, and again, ask to confirm whether the credit card transaction had taken place.
- When the victim informs the fraudster that he or she has no such credit card or transaction, the latter will start to sound concerned and advise that a report be lodged with BNM’s “Unit Kad Kredit Palsu”, or with the commercial bank’s “credit card management department”. The fraudster will then provide the victim with the telephone number for the “Unit Kad Kredit Palsu”.
- When the victim calls the telephone number provided, he or she is greeted by an automated voice message which identifies the source as BNM. The call will then be answered by someone claiming to be a BNM officer. This officer will request for information relating to the victim’s banking and credit card accounts under the pretext of lodging a complaint on their behalf.
- The fraudsters now have sufficient information to illegally transfer funds out of the victim’s bank account.
Members of the public are reminded not to disclose their personal banking information to any unknown party without verification, BNM warned.
For further information, enquiries or complaints, members of the public may contact BNM’s BNMTELELINK, customer care centre ( tel: 1-300-88-5465, fax 03-2174 1515) or e-mail bnmtelelink@bnm.gov.my .
Customers can also go directly to BNM’s walk-in customer service centre at Block D, in Jalan Dato’ Onn, Kuala Lumpur or use the hotline for the Association of Banks in Malaysia, 1-300-88-9980. – Bernama