With consumers expected to do millions of pesos worth of shopping online this holiday season, the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) advises its customers to remain vigilant against online banking fraud and assures that the Bank maintains the highest level of security in all its systems.
“As online shopping becomes a more prudent option to limit physical contact during this season, we would like to remind our customers to be on their guard against different forms of cyber fraud. The best way to avoid becoming a fraud victim is to stay vigilant by being familiar with the online red flags,” said President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo.
The state-run Bank warns customers to ignore suspicious emails, social media messages, SMS, links and attachments, especially from unknown senders. It also reminds customers to be wary of fake websites, social media accounts and fraudulent transactions by checking and verifying the site’s URL, the sender’s email address, social media account, or phone number.
Customers are advised not to share their username or log-in ID and password to anyone, and keep critical financial information private, including the card number, card expiry date, credit verification value (CVV), and one-time password (OTP). Official LANDBANK representatives will never ask for critical financial information of its customers.
Specific to raising awareness on phishing activities, customers are also advised to be wary of emails, text messages, and websites offering free perks or games in exchange for personal information, which are designed to steal customer’s hard-earned money and identity. For specific tips on spotting phishing scams, please refer to this short video from the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG): (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9fvBsOcEvE).
LANDBANK said reminders and best practices to avoid cyber fraud are also being posted regularly on its social media channels. These include tips on spotting cyberattacks, preventing different forms of phishing, and keeping online credentials confidential, among others.
The state-run Bank also reminds customers that the official email addresses of LANDBANK’s Customer Care and iAccess are [email protected] and [email protected], respectively. The Bank’s official URL is www.landbank.com.
To report fraudulent activities, LANDBANK customers may contact the Bank’s Customer Care Hotline through (02) 8-405-7000 or 1-800-10-405-7000, or via email at [email protected].