Hang up if 'banks' call for personal data, says ABM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) has advised the public to ignore calls purportedly being made from banks about outstanding loan amounts or seeking confirmation on credit card transactions. 

ABM said that based on the reports received, there were two common modus operandi (MO) employed by the fraudsters. 

Here's how the first MO works. There will be a recorded message informing the recipients that they have an outstanding amount due with an option to connect to a customer service officer or to call the bank’s customer service department at a specified telephone number. 

ABM said that under the second MO, the fraudster will identify himself/herself as an officer of a bank. The fraudster will inform the recipient that there was a transaction performed using his credit card, or that his loan/credit card payment is overdue. 

The caller would then proceed to ask for the recipient’s personal details on the pretext of checking their system. 

In some cases, the caller would transfer the call to another “officer” from the complaints or similar department. 

ABM pointed out the caller may also advise the recipient to contact Bank Negara Malaysia or the police at the number provided by the caller, which are not the genuine contact numbers for these parties. 

“Anyone who receives such calls is reminded not to follow the instructions provided by the caller and not to disclose any of their personal information. Also, never call the number provided by the caller. 

“Instead, please contact the bank’s customer service number as listed on the bank’s website to seek clarification or confirmation on the authenticity of the call. 

“We wish to remind all bank customers that banks will never request for personal information through telephone calls,” it said. 

ABM said the could contact it at ABMConnect hotline by dialing 1-300-88-9980, or emailing it at eABMConnect by logging on to http://www.abm.org.my/