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New free fraud and cyber awareness app will provide real-time warnings about emerging scams
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A new free anti-fraud and web app will raise awareness among residents of the UAE and the region about cyber-attacks and how to protect themselves.
Launched by global bank HSBC, the app provides real-time warnings about emerging scams around the world and is available for download from Google Play and Apple App Stores in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Turkey and the UAE.
Collin Lobo, chief compliance officer and head of financial crime compliance at HSBC Menat, said the app is available for free so everyone can benefit from the bank’s extensive expertise in cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
“(We) help educate people on how to protect their data can help them stay one step ahead of scammers.”
According to HSBC, some of the most common scams involve impersonating representatives of legitimate organisations and convincing people to share account details, passwords and security codes on the phone; using fake SMS and WhatsApp messages encouraging people to share their account details to receive make payments or send money to fraudulent accounts; and use online offers from fake websites that encourage users to click on links that give cybercriminals direct access to bank account details.
“Using this app will help raise awareness of the importance of cybersecurity and how scams used by fraudsters are evolving. The best defense against cybercrime is understanding how scams work and how to prevent them,” HSBC Menat Network Bipin Mehta, head of the security area, said.
At the same time, UAE banks have also issued advice for customers time and time again, reminding them to protect their accounts. Below, shared by First Bank Abu Dhabi, the largest bank in the UAE, are some of the key steps and measures residents should take to protect their accounts.
- Do not reply to strangers asking you to share OTP online or on the phone
- Do not click on pop-up banners that claim your computer is infected
- Don’t let friendly-sounding callers get your personal information by gaining your trust
- Do not act on emails or messages that would generate urgent action
- Consider safety before sharing personal information with strangers
- Limit the information you share on any social/digital platform
- Create strong and complex passwords and change them frequently
- Only download or install apps from the App Store/Google Play Store
- Watch for Caller ID on calls, especially if it’s someone claiming to be from a bank or government entity
- Always check your account information regularly, including balances and transactions, and report any discrepancies immediately
- Always make sure you use an “https://” website before doing banking or conducting financial transactions
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