Your Bank Account Is Fine, But Scammers Want You Panicking

Your bank account is supposedly at risk, and you must act immediately. That is exactly what scammers want you to believe. The Belize Bankers’ Association says fraudsters are posing as bank representatives and warning customers that their accounts could be suspended, compromised or closed. President Dyon Elliott says that sense of urgency is the trap, and customers should contact their bank directly before clicking a link, sharing information or transferring money.

 

Dyon Elliott, President, Belize Bankers’ Association

“All of the banks, Atlantic Bank, Heritage Bank, Belize Bank, The national Bank of Belize are investing in cybersecurity, investing in making sure that the house, keeping with the analogy, is secure. The diversion  or the detour that these guys are taking and you’re ramping up that you’re seeing with phishing in all its forms, whether it’s smishing or vishing, what, let’s just keep it phishing, is a reaction to that. They’re saying we can’t get into this house, so we’re gonna have to trick Sabrina somehow to give us access.”. And that is the environment that you’re seeing. And we could sum up this conversation by simply saying, be vigilant and verify.The scams almost aways  involve three fundamental things. Appeal to trust. They present themself as an authority figure. Thing number one. And then while presenting themself as an authority figure, somebody trustworthy, “Hi, I am John Bob from XYZ Bank.” And what they will do to try and gain your trust, some of them get really good at this, they’re using your name. They’re using your address. Heck, they have my number. They must know something. And then I’m calling from this institution, so this is a tactic to develop trust.. And then while they raise the authority, the trust and authority factor, they enter into another base instincts, fear. They inject a crisis or an emergency. If you don’t do this now, you’re gonna lose this, you’re gonna lose that. Your account is gonna be shut down so you need to act quickly.”

 

Customers are being advised to hang up, ignore the message and contact their bank through official channels whenever they are unsure whether a request is genuine.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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