Zenith Bank Scam Alert: How To Protect Your Bank Account

With Zenith Bank scam alerts landing in customers’ emails, it becomes imperative to know how to protect your bank account.

What you will read in this report:

…Zenith bank fraud alert

… How to protect your bank account from fraud

… What do you do if someone steals money from your bank account?

…How to report fraud to your bank

…Implications

There is no better time to be careful about your bank accounts than now.

Lately, too many scammers or internet fraudsters are on the prowl, looking for unsuspecting account holders to scam.

Consequently, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has severally issued fraud alerts to the general populace.

Also, deposit money banks have also severally warned their customers of fraudsters targeting their accounts.

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However, knowing how to protect your bank accounts, regardless of which bank, will save you huge trouble.

So, this article will show you how to protect your account from hackers.

Zenith Bank fraud alert

Customers have received Zenith Bank scam alerts warning them about fraudsters on the prowl.

The financial institution sent the scam alerts to its customers, warning them of fraud targeting their bank accounts.

The bank warned that fraudsters are sending scam anniversary giveaway messages to unsuspecting customers.

One of the alerts which Techuncode has seen reads as follows:

“It has been brought to our attention that fraudsters are trying to obtain our customers’ bank details using a purported Zenith Bank 30^th Anniversary Online Giveaway.”

The bank said the fraudsters send messages impersonating Zenith bank, to customers.

The fraudsters, in their scam mails, ask unsuspecting customers to answer a set of questions about the bank.

They urge bank customers into “…providing your account details to stand a chance of winning the sums of ₦30,000.00 and ₦100,000.00.”

Meanwhile, the bank has dissociated itself from any loss that may arise from such fraud, warning customers not to fall prey.

According to the bank, the scam “is an attempt by cyber criminals to gain access to your bank details.”

It said “and Zenith Bank disassociates itself from any 30th anniversary giveaway.”

“Further our 30th anniversary as an institution was in May 2020.”

The bank told its customers not to “participate in such fraudulent schemes or share your sensitive bank information with any third party.”

Also, the deposit money bank said “Zenith Bank would never call, SMS, or e-mail requesting for your card details.”

It also said it can never request for customers’ “PIN, Token codes, Mobile/Internet banking login details or other account information.”

“If you receive such messages, please do not respond,” it said in the statement.

How to protect your bank account from fraud

There are many steps you should take to secure your bank account from fraud. Some of them include:

1. Do not perform sensitive financial transactions using public wifi or networks such as malls, parks.
2. Don’t ever disclose your mobile app activation code to anyone over the phone, SMS or email.
3. Never click on any link in an email you don’t know the source.
4. Also, do not download apps you don’t know of. Always read the reviews on those apps.
5. Do not do provide your personal details to anybody requesting for them via phone calls, email or WhatsApp.
6. Ensure the operating system of your device is updated to latest version.
7. Always use a secure connection while performing online transaction.
8. Report any suspicious activities on your accounts immediately to your bank.
9. In the case you lose your phone or credit card, alert your bank immediately and block your account.
10. Keep your credit cards in safe places where no one will have access to it.
11. Protect your username and password.
12. Limit the websites you share your email addresses and card details with.
13. Do not share private information over the phone. someone could hear it and use it against you.
14. Unsubscribe from suspicious and unwanted emails.
15. Do not share your banking information on social media sites like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, etc.

What do you do if someone steals money from your bank account?

If you have fallen victim to bank fraud, do the following:

1. Report the matter to your bank immediately.

To do this, you must learn how to report fraud to your bank, as this article explains below.

How to report fraud to your bank

Banks have issued statements detailing how a customer can report fraud.

Follow your bank’s official complaint process to report any suspicious activities on your account.

Some banks may refund you your money if you transferred money to a scammer unknowingly.

However, this depends on the bank, its policy, and the circumstances surrounding such error.

So, do these if you have fallen victim to bank fraud.

1. Contact your bank immediately.
2. Inform your bank that the transaction involving your account was fraudulent.
3. Halt any transaction on the account.
4. Instruct your bank to block the account immediately.
5. Then, instruct your bank to make a recall request on the bank’s dedicated bank-to-bank system to regain your money.
6. Ensure the bank reports the matter to the police or to the relevant law enforcement agency.

Implication

Although banks have strong cybersecurity to protect your accounts from fraudsters, it still remains your duty to protect your accounts.

Also, should you fail to secure your account, you could lose your life savings.

You must take the necessary steps to keep your account safe.