Since the coronavirus pandemic began a few months back, fraudulent acts have spread like wildfire. There have been widespread reports of people who have either received an email, text message, or a phone call from scammers disguised as government officials. They claim to have been sent by the government to distribute COVID-19 relief funds and as such, request for the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other personal bank details from unsuspecting people.

Here are simple ways to ensure you stay safe and protected at this time: Use strong passwords, do not share your PIN or password with anyone, be careful about using unsecured wifi connections, only use reputable websites when making purchases, check your account and bank statement regularly to ensure there are no unusual activities on it. In case of a lost or stolen phone, follow the following steps to keep your account secure:

• Dial *90*911# from any phone
• Input the registered phone number on the account to be blacklisted
• USSD profile will be deactivated and blacklisted automatically

There is a high level of ease with online financial transactions but that ease is also accompanied by a high level of risk. When these measures are followed judiciously, it reduces the risk of being a victim to identity theft and will help one notice instantly if suspicious actions occur.  Remember that Access Bank will never ask for your confidential account details. Call us on 01-2712005 or email contactcenter@accessbankplc.com to report any suspected scam. You can connect with our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more tips on how to keep your account safe.