Fake calls: SBP asks customers not to share personal information

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has asked banking customers not to share personal information on fake calls. It has come to SBP knowledge that fraudsters are attempting to defraud the banking customers by seeking bank account details on the pretext of biometric verification. In many cases, this is being done through fake calls by masking the official helpline or registered numbers of banks, the SBP said Monday.
The receivers apparently believe that the call is genuine or from the bank and share their personal information including bank account number, ID, password, CNIC number, etc, resulting in loss of funds even during the calls. The fraudsters generally impersonate as officials of the State Bank, army officer or representative of superior courts of law, etc, on the pretext of biometric verification of accounts. In this context, public has been advised to immediately contact their banks on their registered numbers/helpline themselves instead of responding to incoming calls and sharing their credentials. The SBP has clarified that SBP/banks/Micro Finance Banks do not conduct biometric verification of banks' existing customers through telephone calls. If public receives any such call, they may share details of these cases/incidents with law enforcement agencies or the SBP helpline.