A written statement from the Turkish Banking Association (TBB) provided information on common fraud methods encountered in digital channels for secure transactions and ways to protect against these methods.

Due to the increasing cases of fraud in internet and mobile channels recently, the statement mentioned the need to inform the public, listing frequently encountered types of fraud.

Among these are fraud through fake websites and unsafe shopping platforms, manipulation of personal information, fraud through fake accounts on social media platforms, obtaining personal information through messages from fake email addresses, stealing personal information through fake SMS and emails, attempting to steal information and money by remotely accessing devices, and data theft by installing malware on computers or mobile devices. The statement emphasized not clicking on links in notifications received via SMS, email, or social media without confirming the source. It was highlighted that verification should be done using official communication channels of the service provider and caution against clicking on links that may redirect to fake websites or viruses with a single click. “DO NOT INSTALL MOBILE APPLICATIONS THAT YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT” The statement stressed that no one should be given access to bank accounts and advised not to share passwords with anyone.

It also warned not to trust individuals claiming to be prosecutors, police officers, soldiers, bank employees, lawyers, or asking for passwords, card information, and personal data for rewards, refunds, or card fees. Users were advised not to install mobile applications that they are not sure about because vulnerable or pirate applications could steal personal information, harm devices, and even lead to identity theft. The statement warned to follow security announcements made by banks and to consider the warnings for keeping personal information up to date. “DO NOT USE YOUR PASSWORDS ON OTHER APPLICATIONS OR SHOPPING WEBSITES” The statement emphasized the importance of carefully checking the permissions requested by an application loaded onto personal mobile phones, computers, and tablets and provided the following warnings:

“Download your banking applications from official application stores. Do not download applications from unknown or unreliable sources.

Do not use the passwords you use in banking applications on other applications and shopping websites. Passwords used on less secure sites can be compromised, allowing access to your banking applications.

Do not shop from internet sites that you are not sure about their security. You can be defrauded through a fake site opened for fraudulent purposes.

“REGULARLY CHECK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT STATEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS”

Regularly check your bank account statements and transactions, contact your bank immediately in case of any suspicious activity. Official warnings and information issued by formal institutions and service providers regarding fraud cases should be taken into consideration within this scope.”