6 WAYS YOUR BANK ACCOUNT CAN BE HACKED

With current attempts by fraudsters to access people’s bank accounts through text messages, emails, phone calls etc., it is important we are armed with the knowledge of the different ways our bank accounts can be hacked by these fraudsters. This will help us better discern their gimmicks, avoid their traps and keep our money safe.

Jumia Travel reveals 6 ways your bank account can be hacked.

TRUSTING SUSPICIOUS EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES AND PHONE CALLS

In 2015, Babatunde Fatai, a young man arrested by the Oyo State Police command for various internet crimes including hacking into bank accounts of people in and outside Nigeria, revealed that to hack into bank accounts he would either go to dating sites to woo men and women into trusting him with their account details, or he would send fake emails to bank customers asking them to change their accounts and bank security details. Fatai will then use their ‘old’ security details to access their accounts and transfer their money to his online lovers, for these lovers to transfer back to him through another means.

You should be alert to suspicious emails, especially those that come with promotions from banks giving links you should click. Check the email ID or address and compare with the bank’s official email to see if anything is off (that is, to see if it’s an unofficial or copycat account). Most importantly, always call your bank to confirm any suspicious email before you reply.

TRUSTING SUSPICIOUS TEXT MESSAGES AND PHONE CALLS

As you should be careful with emails, so should you also be careful with text messages and phone calls.

Text messages about your account being blocked because of your BVN and instructing you to call another number to activate; phone calls from strange numbers (numbers different from your bank’s customer care numbers) asking you to disclose your bank’s details especially when you did not previously log a complaint with your bank about any issue related to what is being asked of you, amongst many others, should all be confirmed before responding to them.

Use your bank’s helpline and if you can, go to a nearest bank branch to confirm. The cost of not confirming is most times far more than the cost of confirming. Don’t be quick to share sensitive bank details through any means, no matter how genuine it seems.

SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES

Some hackers get personal information such as your name, date of birth, email and phone number off your social media accounts. With this basic information, a sophisticated hacker can get past other options to change your pin and access your account.

If you use Internet Banking, it is advisable you edit your social media profiles, especially Facebook profiles. If you must leave your day and month of birth, delete your birth year, delete phone numbers you put there that are connected to your bank account and use ones that are not linked to your bank account. For your name, you don’t have to put your full name, especially the one your bank recognizes, on your profile. Your first and last name, or simply a username or nickname is fine.

UNENCRYPTED WEBSITES

According to the Telegraph, you should never shop or log in to online banking when the web address does not begin with “https” or without a lock sign displayed on the address bar.

For an added layer of security, check the online banking security options your bank provides such as free antivirus and browser security software. Ensure that your computer is protected by “firewall” software. Also, browsers (especially Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox) often come with built-in security features. Make sure they are activated.

WEAK PASSWORDS

Especially for those who use Internet Banking, weak passwords make it easy for hackers to crack your passcode and access your account. Strong and unique passwords that are long, random and made up of different cases, numbers, letters and symbols are the best.

CHEQUE BOOKS AND ACCOUNT NUMBERS

Afam Nriezedi, along with his syndicate members, was arrested in 2015 by detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery squad of the Lagos State Police Command for hacking into Nigerian banks with the assistance of bankers and domestic servants.

To hack bank accounts, someone (a domestic servant or relative from the house of the victim) will bring a leaf from the cheque book of the victim to them. The leaf most times isn’t signed but contains the victim’s account number. With the account number, details of the victim’s name, phone number, email, house and work address including the victim’s account balance can be gotten, once they contact an insider in the bank they need the information from. Getting the insider usually isn’t easy but because it is a syndicate, it’s all about the effort and teamwork.

Their next step is to get a copy of the signature of the victim provided most times by the insider in the victim’s home. The cheque is taken to Mushin where the signature is forged and the amount they intend to steal is written. Most times, they don’t use e-banking to transfer the money but withdraw it upfront (usually using an amount that is possible to withdraw upfront). They never go the branch of their insider to do this.

It is important to be careful and restrict access to your cheque book. Also, don’t be careless with your account numbers and emails, phone numbers and addresses linked to your account number. From time to time, check your cheque book to confirm there is no missing page. Also monitor text messages and emails sent to you by your bank to be sure transactions you did not authorize have not occurred.

Ok

God bless you for this info...

And you think keeping to all these ancient rules above your account is safe?

Just keep your ATM card, and mobile phone close to your chest. In fact without your ATM card, enabling someone access to your phone alone, you're at risk of hacking.

Thanks for the info......God bless

Downloading nulled bots or softwares,apps....rat could be inherent.
unncessary teamviewer access. etc

Nice observation Op.

Dear OP, I feel 'Hack' was misused plus BVN makes it impossible for fraudulent activities on accounts save for few cases with the help of an insider(Banker)

With loses running into millions yearly CBN/banks should really work on mitigating and in aftermath halting eChannel frauds though a thick umbrella of indemnity cover 'em.

#MyCandidOpinion

In this case, rather than 'hacking' some people prefer to use the word 'phishing'. But some argue that 'Phishing' is a form of 'Hacking'. I just decided to use 'hacking' because that's the word people know and can understand, so it won't sound too technical.

I still understand you and agree you have a point. BVN has made things much safer but we still need to be careful, especially with suspicious emails and text messages. Some fraudsters are finding new ways to bypass the current security of our accounts.

I didn't include it in this article but it is also important to be careful with your ATM cards. It's advisable not to share sensitive information about your card number or card pin with anyone. You should also refrain from letting others handle your ATM card. Most people know this but are still careless with it.

vimi:
Nice observation Op.

Dear OP, I feel 'Hack' was misused plus BVN makes it impossible for fraudulent activities on accounts save for few cases with the help of an insider(Banker)

With loses running into millions yearly CBN/banks should really work on mitigating and in aftermath halting eChannel frauds though a thick umbrella of indemnity cover 'em.

#MyCandidOpinion

My own is that bankers are the real thief of Nigeria. Without them, most of these things are impossible.

Thanks OP

Thank you so much for this write up. Happy Sunday

Dammie365
I like ur writing style

Nice Write Up and Nice Info

Anybody dat want to hack my account shud go ahead... i get 5 accounts and na only minimum balance dey there..
Reccession is real gan!

Hackers Una welcome, I have less than 1k in my account.

Make we kuku go back to the analogue era and stop using internet banking. You fit dig ground sef bury your money there, all na to save!!!

Good work @ OP.

udumosam23:
And you think keeping to all these ancient rules above your account is safe?

Just keep your ATM card, and mobile phone close to your chest. In fact without your ATM card, enabling someone access to your phone alone, you're at risk of hacking.

Your atm alone, u are dead

If u can't beat dm, join dm



I repeat join them

...but I don't think its possible for someone to steal money from my account using my atm card number and cvv2 only without getting access to the OTP. Without otp e no dey go anywhere.

Hacking for profit is better than hacking to shame

pray these guys no jst mean u cox if dem do, u go even gv dem dese details willingly unknowingly.

Na True Ooooooooooooo!!!!

udumosam23:
And you think keeping to all these ancient rules above your account is safe?

Just keep your ATM card, and mobile phone close to your chest. In fact without your ATM card, enabling someone access to your phone alone, you're at risk of hacking.

Abi o. you can imagine a thread asking people why they need to password their phone's. smh...

Kali, email, acc num, and stupid person finish!

Reminds me of a comment made sometime on Quora. Most HACKERS won't bother hacking an individual account when they can hack the bank's servers.

Most of these words, like phishing, snooping and identity thefts may be elements of unauthorized access, but they are NOT hacking. No one hacks in Nigeria. I stand to be corrected.

An HACKER doesn't need your name or phone number or password - which is probably hashed. There are other indices he keeps track of to fulfil his misdeeds.

Go figure.

Nice info

Nice share.

Recommended : 10 Ways You Can Prevent Hackers From Hacking Your Passwords

to cut the world short.... without the help of BANK staff nothing fit work out..

this is very good