Tet is a time when criminals rampage to embezzle the finances of victims from bank accounts. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)
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Tet Nguyen Dan is the busiest time for transactions and shopping in the year. This is also an occasion when scams and frauds to embezzle money from accounts become more sophisticated.
Typically, at the end of the year, card transactions are more popular due to activities related to money transfers, receiving salaries and settling debts, buying online services, products… The ease of online transactions, including spending for e-commerce, is also a reason why personal information related to bank card accounts is exposed or lost due to lack of vigilance. During this period, according to statistics, is also the time when crimes flourish to embezzle the finances of victims.
Banking experts note some suspicious signs, recognizing devices that may be hijacked, such as devices running out of battery quickly and running slowly, appearing unfamiliar apps on the phone… Besides, if there are apps automatically running even when the phone is not in use or unexpectedly high power consumption or abnormal heating of the device, then powerful privileges have been granted to some unknown and controls that can’t be turned off… At this time, the customer’s device may have been hijacked.
Another form warned by banks is impostors impersonating tax authorities, public services… requesting, even threatening, and pressuring users to download and install fake software containing malware into Android operating system-based phones.
After users download the software, they will exploit the weaknesses of the Accessibility feature of Android to take control of the phone, steal personal information, and embezzle money from bank accounts. Accessibility is a built-in function on devices using the Android operating system to support users with hearing, visual, and reading disabilities.
To avoid hackers’ intrusion, experts recommend people switch to biometric authentication to better protect card information online. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)
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Therefore, banks recommend customers not to follow instructions given by unknown phone numbers, even if they claim to be bank officials or other agencies without verifying whether the information is accurate or not. In addition, customers should immediately disable the privileges granted to risky apps before conducting financial transactions on mobile devices.
To protect their accounts, experts say that people need to protect their phone accounts just like buying a safe to keep money in the past.
In order to avoid hackers’ intrusion, experts also recommend users to ensure multi-layered security for their bank card information, switch to biometric authentication for safer online card information protection and a prerequisite for protecting 2-factor OTP verification codes in all cases.
In addition, customers who do not participate in using online services that may harm their owned bank cards, the majority of services should go directly to branches to request assistance from staff, which is safer. Before money transfers, users should verify transaction information and recipients by meeting in person or making phone calls instead of fully trusting unclear exchanges on social media platforms, text messages, emails…
Mr. Vu Ngoc Son – Director of Cybersecurity Technology, National Cybersecurity Company NCS, advises: “Users can install the highest security for applications running on mobile devices, such as using biometric technology. This helps the user protect themselves when their accounts, passwords, and OTP codes are unintentionally exposed. At this point, transfers cannot be made unless identification is performed using biometrics or fingerprints.”
Experts recommend users to ensure multi-layered security for their bank card information. (Photo: Vietnam+)
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Furthermore, Mr. Pham Long Giang – Director of Digital Banking Services Center, VPBank, also advises: “Users should only use links and apps with clear origins, so that if unfortunate situations occur, such as being attacked by hackers or clicking on fake links during Tet, we can still provide immediate support.”
In addition to improving security for their devices, experts recommend that users share information and support their surrounding relatives, such as parents, spouses, children, raising awareness and knowing how to protect information in their digital accounts.
Experts say that rare cases but have also occurred, that is when the close ones may unintentionally use each other’s phones without realizing it and then click on fake links, giving opportunities for criminals to take money from accounts…
It is known that, based on the instructions of the State Bank of Vietnam, many credit institutions and payment intermediaries have added resources to technology infrastructure as well as human resources to ensure that the transactions and payments of people are smooth during Tet Nguyen Dan.
Thuy Ha
