Avoiding smishing attacks

MANILA, Philippines — No matter the circumstances the modern world is going through, may it be in a pandemic or in a new normal, there seems to be one thing that remains: fraudsters.

These culprits will always come up with ways to deceive the banking public. In whatever situation, awareness is our key defense against their illegal plots.

One prevalent scam attack is smishing or SMS phishing. To fight this fraud, always think twice when you receive unusual text messages. Be on alert for these common red flags:

1. SMS comes from a suspicious or fake sender ID

2. SMS urges you to verify your account

3. SMS contains links to suspicious, malicious, and unsecured websitesKeep in mind that banks will never ask or send links via call, SMS, chat or e-mail to get your personal information and banking details.

Report suspected smishing incidents to Metrobank Contact Center at (02) 88-700-700 (domestic toll-free 1-800-1888-5775) or email us at [email protected] using “Report on Possible Fraud” as the subject and attach a screenshot of the fake SMS.

Join Metrobank in our fight against fraud. Visit https://metrobank.com.ph/fight-fraud for more fraud tips, news, and advisories.