Fraudsters use various methods to unlawfully obtain your assets through deception. Below are the most common fraud techniques and the precautions you can take against them:
1. E-mail / SMS
Email and SMS scams are among the most frequently used methods.
You might receive an email that is specific or general but designed to pique your interest, or an SMS on your mobile phone that appears to be related to you. For instance:
“Your password has expired. Please click here to update it.”
“A suspicious transaction has been made on your card. If you are unaware of this, please click the link below.”
“To take advantage of our special loan offer, you can log in to your bank using the link below.”
What should you do?
Our Bank never requests personal information via email or SMS. Avoid accessing banking transactions through links sent via these channels.
Do not open emails or attachments from unknown senders or those that appear suspicious.
Always verify the links you receive against our Bank’s official website address. If you notice any discrepancies, do not enter your information through these links.
2. Telephone
Telephone fraud involves scammers posing as individuals from professional groups such as police officers, prosecutors, or bank personnel to gain your trust and obtain your financial information.
Fraudsters may attempt to deceive you by using background noises or keywords like “reward,” “penalty,” “loan,” or “criminal organization membership.” They may persuade you to send money or share sensitive information, such as your bank login details, SMS verification codes, or card passwords.
What should you do?
Our Bank does not request personal information, passwords, or SMS codes via telephone. If such information is requested, do not share it.
If you have doubts, contact the nearest branch of our Bank or our call center.
3. Social Media
The growing use of smartphones has led to increased social media activity, which in turn has brought new information security risks.
In this context, you may encounter campaigns on social media that appear tailored to you.
Fraudsters may attempt to obtain your financial information through advertisements with headlines like gift draws, give aways, promotions, or discounts.
What should you do?
Our Bank does not conduct gift draws or offer exclusive promotions or discounts through social media.
Pay attention to the URLs used in social media accounts, compare them with official URLs, and ensure you access only legitimate links.
4. Malicious Software
Malware that can infect devices such as computers, phones, or tablets can compromise your personal and financial data.
This malware can infiltrate your smart devices through emails, SMS messages, social media platforms, or when you click on unsafe links or download files from untrusted sources..
When fraudsters remotely install this malware on your smart devices, they can access your personal information and carry out financial transactions on your behalf.
If your smart devices exhibit increased battery drain, screen freezes, or unusual behavior, it is highly likely that your device is infected with malware.
What should you do?
Promptly perform security updates on your computer and smart devices, and enable automatic updates.
Use licensed operating systems, software, and security programs. Avoid using rooted, jailbroken, or cracked devices with unsupported operating systems instead of the original ones.
Always download apps from official app stores on your mobile devices. Before downloading, check the number of downloads and user reviews. Malicious apps often have fewer downloads and negative or minimal reviews.
When installing an application on your computer or mobile device, carefully review the permissions you grant before quickly accepting them. Do not authorize apps that require full administrative access.
Avoid connecting to networks you consider insecure. Do not use free or publicly available wireless connections.
In your internet and mobile banking applications, activate restriction settings such as limiting usage by country, IP address, or time.
Security software may not always be able to remove malware. If necessary, reset your device.
If you suspect your computer or smart device is infected despite taking all precautions, contact a reputable and authorized technical support company for assistance.
5.Use of Your Bank Account for Money Transfers
One method fraudsters use to launder and embezzle illicitly obtained funds is to rent individuals’ bank accounts for a fee or send money directly to strangers’ accounts, later requesting them to transfer the funds to another account under the pretense of a mistake.
Allowing your bank account to be used in the flow of illicit funds can make you an accomplice to this crime. Under the Turkish Penal Code, this constitutes a criminal offense, as the account holder consents to their account being used in such activities.
What should you do?
Never allow anyone else to use your bank account under any circumstances.
If you notice any unauthorized activity in your account, immediately inform our bank, instruct it to return the funds to the originating account, and notify the judicial authorities without delay.
If you receive money in your account from an unknown person, inform the nearest branch of our bank or our call center and request the immediate return of the funds to the sender’s account.
