ALERT: Beware of fraudsters promising COVID-19 relief funds, UBA warns

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has advised customers to protect their bank accounts and prevent getting defrauded.

In a statement released on Thursday, the bank warned customers against divulging any sensitive personal information regarding their bank and or card details.

Chukwuma Nweke, UBA executive director for retail banking & payments, said the bank’s attention has been drawn to some fraudulent messages making the rounds, where customers have been asked to provide their card details for disbursement of funds into their accounts. He emphasised that customers should ignore such requests

“Some of our customers may have received a call or message asking for their card details and bank validation number (BVN) for disbursement of COVID-19 funds,” he said.

“Others may have also received an email informing them of bonuses of between N30,000 and N70,000 upon validation of their bank details online.

“It is important to note that these emails and messages did not originate from UBA, and we would never at any point in time ask for your account details over the telephone of via SMS, emails, live chat or social media.

“We advise that you kindly delete these messages and do not entertain calls of this nature. Please also inform the bank of these incidences immediately they occur.”

Nweke retairated that personal banking details including passwords, usernames, card numbers, security numbers at the back of cards, BVN, OTPs, security answers and other sensitive information should not be shared with anyone as UBA would never ask for them online or through phone calls or text messages.

In a seperate statement on Thursday, Zenith Bank has also warned customers against releasing sensitive bank information to strangers.