WARNING TO CUSTOMERS FROM NCB: BE CAUTIOUS OF SEVERAL TYPES OF SOPHISTICATED SCHEMES

In recent times, technologically advanced thieves have consistently employed intricate methods to unlawfully acquire possessions. For the purpose of safeguarding customers from the schemes of criminals, National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank (NCB) advises customers to enhance their alertness towards the following deceptive tactics:

1. IMPERSONATION OF AUTHORITIES

- Individuals posing as government authorities, such as the police, General Department of Taxation, Ministry of Health, Procuracy, etc., make phone calls requesting the installation of counterfeit government applications, such as those from the Government or General Department of Taxation. They GAIN REMOTE CONTROL OVER THE CUSTOMER'S ELECTRONIC DEVICE, such as a phone or tablet.

- Individuals engaging in the act of impersonating law enforcement officials, such as the police, in order to inform bank accounts associated with criminal investigations; Individuals engaging in the act of impersonating a traffic police officer, the scammer deceitfully contacts people to warn them of a supposed "cool sanction" for a traffic infraction. They then proceed to REQUEST THAT THE VICTIMS DEPOSIT MONEY IN ORDER TO AID IN THE INVESTIGATION. Alternatively, the scammer may ask for ACCESS TO A SUSPICIOUS LINK given by them under the pretense of verifying personal information.

- Individuals engaging in fraudulent activities by posing as a telecommunications network employee in order to DECEIVE CUSTOMERS AND STEAL THEIR PHONE SIM CARDS while assisting with upgrading to 4G/5G SIM or converting to Esim.

2. BANK EMPLOYEE IMPERSONATION

Criminals make phone calls pretending to be bank employees in order to deceive individuals into helping them open credit cards, withdraw cash from credit cards, claim fake prizes and rewards, assist in resolving outstanding debts, apply for loans, or inform customers of account issues. They may also falsely claim that a wrong money transfer has occurred, provide instructions for a refund, or request access to a fraudulent link for further processing.

3. FORGERY OF BANK MESSAGES

Fraudulent messages frequently include false information regarding customers winning prizes, alerts about unauthorized deductions of money, notifications of credit card balances or debts for services that customer did not sign up for, notifications of locked accounts requiring verification, and so on. These messages then PROMPT CUSTOMERS TO CLICK ON A COUNTERFEIT LINK IN ORDER TO CANCEL, PAY FOR SERVICES, OR AUTHENTICATE THEIR ACCOUNTS.

Adhering to the provided guidelines, the customer will incur FINANCIAL LOSSES as a result of relinquishing control over the bank account.

4. FORGERY OF THE BANK'S BRAND EMAIL

Scammers employ deceptive emails with titles and contents that mimic those of legitimate banks, often using the format "Bank name - Content." These fraudulent messages claim that customers have unpaid credit card debt and must settle it immediately. The scammer will then contact the customer and pretend to be a bank employee, manipulating and pressuring them to pay off the debt.

5. SOME OTHER FORMS OF FRAUD

- Individuals engaging in the act of pretending to be an e-commerce platform that connects online payments with a financial institution, and requesting the input of electronic banking details.

- Individuals engaging in activities such as hacking Zalo or creating false Facebook profiles to impersonate the victim's family members in order to fraudulently request urgent money transfers.

-  Initiating a fund transfer to the victim's account along with loan details, followed by contacting the victim to notify them about the erroneous transfer and requesting its return. The recipient account has been changed from the original transfer account. Eventually, the initial owner of the money transfer account will request payment from the victim, including additional charges for interest.

In addition to employing fraud and impersonation tactics, criminals frequently prompt customers to divulge account information or click on a link to enter or log in to their accounts. Specifically, they consistently seek the One-Time Password (OTP) or Smart OTP code that has recently been issued to the the customer. If you possess the OTP/Smart OTP code, malevolent individuals will assume command over your bank account.

NCB especially RECOMMENDS that customers:

1. AVOID engaging in any activities such as accessing unfamiliar URLs, downloading and installing unknown software, making video calls, depositing and transferring money, or topping up withdrawal cards, when approached by individuals purporting to be police officers, state agencies, government officials, or bank employees.

2. AVOID installing programs from untrusted sources using links or files with the ".apk" extension, refrain from rooting or jailbreaking your phone, not provide permissions to see the screen, read input data, or control the phone screen.

3. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you disclose your login credentials for internet banking, iziMobile, OTP/Smart OTP authentication code, or card details to anybody, including bank personnel. NCB does not request that customers supply any sort of private information. OTP/Smart OTP is a crucial security measure that safeguards your account, and its confidentiality is known only to you.

4. NOT comply with requests to transfer money from an unknown caller, especially if they claim to be a representative of a government agency or bank.

5. Make sure to verify with the bank switchboard when you receive phone calls, messages, or emails purporting to be from bank personnel for marketing purposes and instructing you to undertake ambiguous transactions.

6. Ensure that you access digital banking services exclusively through NCB's official website at: https://www.ncb-bank.vn/. Alternatively, you can log in using the NCB iziMobile application, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play (for Android devices). Under no circumstances should you click on or open links included in unfamiliar or suspicious messages or emails. Avoid downloading unfamiliar software or programs.

7. Consistently monitor and revise safety and security alerts regarding online payments from NCB, as well as information disseminated through mass media channels.

8. If you believe or discover that you have downloaded or installed a harmful or fraudulent application, TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO POWER DOWN OR RESET YOUR PHONE, report the incident to the authorities, and seek assistance from your bank.

If you inadvertently click on the link in the fraudulent message or provide any information pertaining to your bank account, or if you fear that your SIM card has been compromised, it is imperative that you PROMPTLY BLOCK YOUR ACCOUNT by:

Step 1: Access the NCB iziMobile login interface and deliberately input an incorrect password consecutively for a total of five attempts. This will prompt the system to identify the account as locked, thus thwarting any further login attempts by unauthorized individuals during subsequent sessions.

Step 2: Urgently contact NCB's 24/7 Customer Care Center at hotline 18006166 to request the locking of your NCB iziMobile account and to seek further assistance.

Once again, NCB ADVISES customers to exercise extreme caution when receiving texts, calls, or emails that request access to website URLs, login credentials, account details, or personal information.

AVOID disclosing personal information, such as identity papers or bank account details, to individuals who pretend to be police officers, court officials, Ministry of Health representatives, bank personnel, etc. Additionally, refrain from sharing such information on social media platforms.

NCB has only one official website, one official fanpage with a verified green tick, and one official NCB Recruitment fanpage:

NCB website: https://www.ncb-bank.vn/

NCB National Citizen Bank: https://www.facebook.com/NCBVietNam

NCB Recruitment: https://www.facebook.com/tuyendung.NCB

If you have any concerns about any fraudulent activity involving NCB, please promptly reach out to the local Police Department or call NCB's customer service hotline, which is available 24/7, at 1800 6166. You may also send an email to chamsockhachhang@ncb-bank.vn or visit the nearest branch or transaction office.

NCB expresses gratitude and extends well wishes for a secure and hassle-free encounter with NCB's products and services.