HDFC Bank Customers Alert! Beware of These Online PAN Frauds

Customers of HDFC Bank are being targeted for a scam in which con artists send a link through SMS or e-mail instructing the receiver to update their PAN card information by clicking the link.

This is known as a phishing scam, in which criminals create a third-party phishing website that seems to be a legitimate website, such as a bank's website, an e-commerce website, a search engine, and so on. Fraudsters provide links to these websites via SMS, social media, email, Instant Messenger, and other methods. Many clients click on the link without first checking the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and input security credentials such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN), One Time Password (OTP), Password, and so on, which are collected and utilized by fraudsters.

Precautions against phishing attacks

• To avoid accidentally accessing unknown, unverified links in the future, do not click on unknown, unverified links and immediately delete such SMS and emails received by unknown senders.

• Before deleting emails that contain links to a bank, phishing website, or search engine website, unsubscribe and block the sender's e-mail ID.

• Always go to your bank's or service provider's official website. Check the website's details carefully, especially if it asks for financial information.

• Before entering secure credentials, look for the secure sign (https with a padlock symbol) on the website.

• Check for spelling errors in URLs and domain names received in emails. Inform if you have any suspicions.

There has been a significant increase in the use of digital payments, which increased during the Covid-19-induced lockdowns. However, as the speed and ease of financial transactions have grown, the incidence of retail financial transaction scams has increased.

Fraudsters have been employing new tactics to defraud the general public of their hard-earned money, particularly newcomers to the usage of digital platforms who are unfamiliar with the techno-financial eco-system.