HSBC warns about suspicious text messages circulating which falsely claim to be from the b | Personal Finance | Finance
In some cases, criminals are even able to harness specialist software that alters the sender ID. This means that some text messages falsely appear to come from the bank.
Some of the messages include fraudulent URLs for users to click on.
This was the case with a text message that one Twitter user, Lynzy Clarke received: “{HSBC}: A payment request was made from an unrecognised device. If this was NOT you visit https://hsbc.online-verify-payee.com/hsbc” reads the message.”
Another Twitter user, Andy Gibson reported that he didn’t even have an HSBC bank account but received the following text message: “HSBC ALERT: Request for NEW payee MR A JACOB has been made on your account. If this was NOT done by you, visit www.cancel-payments-onlinesecure.com/hsbc.”
Some text message scams also promote offers of money or rewards such as lottery prizes.
Others falsely state that the bank account may be shut down unless a person takes action.
Scammers are mostly able to gain account details by prompting victims to create a one time passcode (OTP).
However, a genuine text message from HSBC will never ask a person to provide passwords.
It will also never ask for personal or financial information in a message.
DON’T MISS:
HSBC asks people not to click on any links included in text messages or emails.
Instead, customers are advised to contact the bank directly or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
People also have the option of dialling the 159 Stop Scams number.
Additionally, people are urged not to provide bank or security details and to never download software onto a device.
People should never share their HSBC OTP with anyone.
HSBC provides a service where anyone can report suspicious text messages to their mobile network provider by simply forwarding the text message to 7726.
This service is free of charge.
People can also report suspicious text messages to [email protected]@hsbc.co.uk.
Smishing is when a person receives a text message, commonly from a bank, telling them that there’s a problem with their account.
In the first six months of 2017 alone, more than 19,000 people were victims of transfer scams, costing over £100million.
More recently, Proofpoint data shows that reports of smishing in the UK grew nearly 700 percent in the first six months of 2021, compared to the second half of 2020.
