How the scam works
What happens
Fraudsters send an SMS that appears to come from a bank and claim that an account is blocked, a debit order must be reversed, or unusual activity must be verified. The link opens a fake banking page designed to steal login credentials, card information, and one-time PINs.
Example scenario
You receive: “FNB ALERT: Your profile will be suspended. Verify now at fnb-secure-example.com.”Example wording is illustrative and may differ from real scam messages.
Warning signs
Red flags to look for
01
Unexpected account warning
02
Link uses an unfamiliar domain
03
Request for an OTP, PIN, password, or CVV
04
Pressure to act immediately
Safer response
What to do next
01
Do not open the link
02
Open your banking app directly
03
Call the number printed on the back of your bank card
04
Change credentials immediately if they were entered