I got an SMS saying my bank account is blocked and I must click a link. Is it real?
Do not click the link. Messages that threaten to block your account and send you to a link are a common way to steal banking logins. Contact your bank through its app or official number.
The link leads to a page that looks like your bank. Whatever you type there, including the OTP that follows, goes straight to the scammer.
The same trick arrives on WhatsApp and by email, sometimes using the names of government agencies or telecom networks.
What to do
- Do not click and do not reply.
- Open your banking app the usual way to see if there is really a problem.
- If you clicked and typed details, call your bank at once.
- Delete the message and block the sender.
Frequently asked questions
- The link looked like my bank's website. How can I tell?
- Small changes in the address are easy to miss. The safe rule is never to log in from a link in a message.
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