After church one Sunday afternoon, Aunty Ada was enjoying her jollof rice while watching TV. Her phone buzzed. Thinking it was her daughter calling from Lagos, she quickly picked up.
“Good afternoon ma, I’m calling from your bank,” the voice said smoothly. “We noticed some suspicious transactions on your account.” The caller sounded professional, even calling her “Madam Ada” respectfully. They knew her account number and even mentioned her last transaction.
Aunty Ada’s heart raced. Just last week, her friend Mama Chioma had lost money to fraudsters. “Don’t worry madam, we will help secure your account right now,” the caller reassured her. When they asked for her PIN to “block the suspicious transactions,” she gave it without hesitation. They even sent her a special code to enter into her phone, promising it would protect her account.
Two hours later, while serving her husband his Sunday rice, her phone beeped. Alert after alert showed her account being drained. Her evening suddenly turned dark – her entire salary, her children’s school fees, and even her Christmas savings were gone. All because she trusted a stranger who sounded official on the phone.
But you don’t have to be the next victim. Here’s how to keep your money safe and fraudsters frustrated:
1. Your PIN is like your underwear:
– Don’t share it with anyone (yes, even if they claim to be from the bank)
– Change it regularly
– Keep it private and personal
– Never enter it on any website or share it over the phone
2. ATM wisdom:
– Cover the keypad when entering your PIN (those wandering eyes aren’t admiring your new outfit)
– If the ATM looks suspicious or has strange attachments, find another one
– Never accept “help” from strangers hovering around ATMs
– Visit ATMs inside bank branches when possible
3. POS Safety:
– Keep your eyes on your card like you watch your pot of soup
– Make sure transactions happen in front of you
– Always collect your receipt
– Check transaction alerts immediately
4. If something seems off:
– End the transaction immediately
– Call your bank’s official number (not the number the person on the phone gives you)
– Report any suspicious activity right away
– Never click on suspicious links sent via SMS or email
Remember: No bank official will ever ask for your:
– Full card details
– PIN
– OTP
– Online banking password
Today, Aunty Ada is wiser. She now tells everyone her story as a warning. “If someone calls you claiming to be from your bank,” she says, “end the call and dial the bank’s official number yourself. Better to waste a few minutes checking than to lose your hard-earned money.”
Need help or notice something suspicious?
Contact us immediately at 02018888822 or 07008220000
And here’s the good news – you don’t have to fight fraudsters alone. At Sterling, we’re like that friend who always has your back. We’ve put together a complete fraud prevention toolkit just for you.
Want to be as sharp as Aunty Ada is now? Get your free fraud prevention toolkit here. Because at Sterling, we don’t just protect your money – We protect you.
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