The current COVID-19 situation has led to a lot of panic buying of essentials including medical products like masks and COVID-19 testing kits etc., thus giving fraudsters a chance to take advantage of the situation by using common fraudulent tactics such as Phishing, Vishing and Smishing.

Attackers are devising new techniques and attacks to lure users to click on malicious link or download unwanted malicious softwares or to provide personal or card information via phishing emails looking to provide information regarding COVID-19, by setting up fake shops, websites, social media accounts and email addresses claiming to sell surgical masks and other medical supplies.

Things You Can Do To Avoid Fraud

In case you come across emails/links providing medical supplies and services, then follow the below steps to avoid fraud.

  • Do not open any unsolicited email and click only on those emails/ links that are from trusted sources.
  • Do not share any confidential information related to your credit/debit cards such as the card number, CVV and OTP. Bank employees will never ask for these details. Verify online about the existence of the company / individual offering the products and services.
  • Check the link given in email or message thoroughly as criminals will often use a web address that looks almost identical to a legitimate one, e.g. ‘abc.org’ instead of ‘abc.com’.
  • Look out for spelling and grammatical mistakes. If an email includes spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, it is likely that you’ve received a phishing email. Check online reviews of a company / individual before making a purchase to confirm authenticity.
  • Avoid emails / links that compel you to take instinctive actions.
  • Be cautious if any unknown person/organization requests transfer of funds to a bank account located in a different country other than the country where the company/organization is located.
  • Be very careful about any email / links requesting for personal information such as PAN Card Details, Aadhaar Number, Bank Account Details etc., as legitimate entities do not request personal information in such a manner.
  • Be cautious while downloading any application that provides medical supplies or support. Research about the application in detail and download from the publisher’s site only. Scan the application/file before installation.
  • Protect Net Banking and Mobile Banking by installing a trusted anti-virus software on your laptop and phone.

You can also reach out to us for any assistance on the below dedicated helpline numbers.

Banking: 1800 120 616161

Credit Cards: 1800 102 6222

or send us an email on vigilance@rblbank.com.