Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Scam alert app to help residents in UAE

Global bank HSBC has launched a scam alert app to help residents in the UAE and other countries avoid cyber crimes. The anti-fraud app provides real-time warnings about emerging scams worldwide and can be downloaded from Google Play and Apple App stores in UAE. The HSBC Fraud and Cyber Awareness app—which also alerts users on how to protect themselves—is also available in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Turkey and UK. “(We’re) Helping to educate people on how to safeguard their data can help them to stay one step ahead of the scammers,” said Collin Lobo, chief compliance officer and head of financial crime compliance for MENAT at HSBC. According to HSBC, some of the most common scams are posing as representatives of known organisations to dupe people into sharing their personal and banking details. Scammers target victims through phone calls, fake SMS and WhatsApp messages that dupe people into sharing their account details to receive bogus payments. Cybercriminals also use fake websites and use SMS or social media to direct them via links that will give access to their bank account details. ICA/Expat Media
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