How to Protect Yourself from Phishing calls?
1
Stay Calm
It’s important to stay calm and composed during the call. Phishing callers often use scare tactics or urgency to manipulate victims, so maintaining a clear mindset is crucial. Typical strategies employed by scammers are:
- Lure you with an offer that expires shortly and urge you to click on a link or make a payment
- Threaten that your account will be blocked if the information is not shared immediately
- Fines that will be levied by bank for outstanding payments on an old credit card or an insurance premium
- Threaten you with legal cases pretending to be tax authorities or police
2
Verify the Caller
Ask the caller for their name, organization, and contact information. Legitimate organizations will typically provide this information. Be skeptical if they refuse to provide any details or if the information seems suspicious.
- Most scamsters ask you to send your personal information on Whatsapp or to their personal e-mail accounts.
- Most scamsters call during 9 AM - 6 PM on working days to imitate real bank employees
3
Do Not Share Personal Information
Never provide personal or sensitive information over the phone, such as social security numbers, bank account details, passwords, or any verification codes. Legitimate organizations will not ask you to provide such information over the phone. Always share information to the bank customer support email or to an employee’s official account.
4
Report the incident
Report the phishing call to your local law enforcement agency or the appropriate cybercrime reporting authorities in your country. They may investigate and take necessary actions to address the issue.
To report phishing attacks targeting Indian banks, you can use the following contact details:
State Bank of India (SBI):
- Email: alert@sbi.co.in
- Toll-free Helpline: 1800 425 3800
ICICI Bank:
- Email: antiphishing@icicibank.com
- Toll-free Helpline: 1800 102 4242
HDFC Bank:
- Email: phishing@hdfcbank.com
- Toll-free Helpline: 1800 425 4332
Punjab National Bank (PNB):
- Email: incident@pnb.co.in
- Toll-free Helpline: 1800 180 2222
Axis Bank:
- Email: customer.service@axisbank.com
- Toll-free Helpline: 1800 419 5959
Bank of Baroda:
- Email: infosec@bankofbaroda.com
- Toll-free Helpline: 1800 258 44 55
Please note that these contact details are provided as a general reference and may be subject to change. It is always recommended to visit the official website of the respective bank to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate contact information for reporting phishing attacks.
5
Educate Yourself and Warn others
Stay informed about the latest phishing techniques and scams, share your experience and knowledge with family, friends, or colleagues to raise awareness about the phishing call and help others avoid falling victim to similar scams. Spread the word to protect others from potential harm.