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Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Wealth
Let's demystify topics that aren't about finance but about protecting your wealth. There's an industry growing much faster than inflation: hackers, scammers, and fraudsters all belong to a highly lucrative business—cybercrime!
Cybercriminals are after your personal information and your money. Most of the time, as a customer of a service, you're alone and on the front line facing the traps set by cybercriminals. While your bank can help you remedy certain situations, the ideal approach is to arm yourself with knowledge so you know how to stay safe at all times.
Warning: Fraudulent Use of Banking Brand Names
Fraudsters are increasingly using legitimate brand names to create a false sense of trust. Common tactics include:
- Contacting potential victims via WhatsApp, SMS, or social media
- Promising "free credit" or special loan offers
- Requesting app downloads under the pretext of credit procedures or partner account creation
- Impersonating bank representatives
This is a scam.
These methods are part of a growing trend where cybercriminals use legitimate brand names to steal your personal data or compromise your device security.
If you receive such a message:
Do NOT:
- Respond to the message
- Click on any links
- Download anything based on the instructions provided
Instead:
- Report the number to local authorities
- Contact your bank through official, secure channels only
- Verify any suspicious communication through your bank's official app or website
Remember:
- Your bank communicates only through its official app, verified website, or legitimate email addresses
- Any offers, updates, or services will come exclusively through secure and verified channels
- Never trust unsolicited contact promising financial benefits
The Growing Threat: Key Statistics
Cybersecurity incidents are increasing dramatically. National cybersecurity centers worldwide report:
- Doubling of reported cyber incidents year-over-year
- Thousands of phishing attempts reported monthly
- Increasing sophistication of fraud schemes
How to Communicate Securely with Your Bank
Let's start with the end in mind! Here are important reminders about how to communicate securely with your bank, particularly with banking specialists and wealth managers.
Official Communication Channels
Your bank should have verified official channels:
- Official mobile app for general banking services, including chat or video calls
- Verified website with proper security certificates
- Official email addresses from the bank's verified domain
- Contact forms on the official website
As a digital bank customer, you should only conduct banking operations through the official mobile app, available on verified app stores (Apple App Store or Google Play Store).
Why Are Your Personal Details Important?
When you subscribe to digital services, companies ask for personal information at various levels. Banks and insurance companies are probably those to whom you provide the most documents and personal data. As a partner working alongside you to protect and grow your wealth, this is entirely normal.
As a result, banks are among the most highly regulated companies, required to comply with numerous laws and regulations, both globally and locally. Banks must ensure rigorous controls on the confidentiality of your data and the security of information related to customer data, transactions, and more.
As a bank customer and as an actor in the global payment network, you have a role to play—and it's not easy! Most of the time, as a service customer, you're alone and on the front line facing traps set by cybercriminals. While your bank can help remedy certain situations, the ideal is to arm yourself so you know how to stay safe at all times.
You Are on the Front Line
Cybercriminals are after your personal information and your money. Cybersecurity is a confidential world with countless secrets! You might think of TV series showing hooded hackers, but scammers and fraudsters don't all wear black masks. Cybercrime has indeed transformed into a real industry, structured like any other business, and it is very lucrative.
Even cybersecurity professionals can fall victim to sophisticated scams. Everyone must remain vigilant and continue learning about new threats.
Let's focus here on your personal information and examine together what your bank will never ask you!
Protect Your Personal Data
Your bank already knows your data. Why would they ask for it again, especially in an unofficial manner?
Your personal data belongs to you and should remain private as much as possible.
Check If Your Email Has Been Compromised
Before we dive into security guidelines, it's important to know if your personal information has already been exposed in a data breach.
Have I Been Pwned is a free, trusted service where you can check if your email address has been compromised in known data breaches. Simply enter your email address to see if your data has been exposed.
If your email appears in a breach:
- Change your passwords immediately, especially for banking and financial services
- Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible
- Be extra vigilant for phishing attempts, as hackers may target you specifically
Key Guidelines:
Never share your login and identification information – these ensure that it's actually you performing operations on your smartphone.
Never share your one-time passcodes (OTP) – for the same reason as above.
Don't provide personal information over the phone – your bank already knows this information.
Never disclose banking information online, such as card PIN or CVV codes – these can be used by fraudsters at merchants who don't guarantee your identity through, for example, 3DS confirmation for most online payments.
Your bank will never contact you to verify your account information via email or phone.
Protect Your Digital Experience
Beyond the trap of sharing data in certain malicious scenarios in which you're directly involved, you can also share your personal data involuntarily. Daily, your digital behavior is more or less likely to facilitate the work of scammers and fraudsters.
Be Vigilant About:
Downloading unverified mobile/desktop applications
Some third-party apps may try to access your smartphone content or other mobile apps' content, sometimes acting as a data sink for all your personal data, contacts, etc. This could be considered data theft, but in a way, you accept it by installing the app.
Downloading web browser extensions
The risk is the same as the previous point but concerns the desktop experience more.
Clicking on suspicious links
Easier said than done... but before clicking, try to verify the domain. When in doubt, manually type the domain into your web browser. Sometimes an imperceptible typo can lead you to a malicious copy of a company's website.
Downloading unknown attachments
Similar to a web link, you should verify the origin of an attachment or any type of document. Since any document can be weaponized, it's safer to have antivirus software on your computer to potentially quarantine any suspicious downloads.
Allowing remote access to your computer
This might happen with a store helping you resolve computer or smartphone issues, but your bank will never ask you to authorize remote access or perform screen sharing.
Protect Your Banking Experience
Digital banks offer unique banking experiences with clear service offerings. Your bank should never offer any services outside its official mobile application. You can of course engage with them on social media and participate in various events they organize and sponsor, but these are not banking services.
A secure banking experience is a major concern that goes beyond this article.
Key Guidelines:
The main guideline here is to avoid any interaction with your bank through unofficial means (use the official website and mobile app, and never authorize access to your computer).
Your bank's highly qualified and professional staff will never pressure you to take urgent action regarding your banking services. They will also never use fear-inducing language.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be immediately suspicious if:
- Someone claims to be from your bank and asks for passwords, PINs, or OTPs
- You're pressured to act immediately or urgently
- Communication comes from unofficial channels (personal phone numbers, unofficial email addresses)
- You're asked to download unknown software or apps
- Someone requests remote access to your device
- Offers seem too good to be true (free money, guaranteed returns, special deals)
What to Do If You Suspect Fraud
- Do not engage with the suspicious contact
- Do not provide any information
- Contact your bank immediately through official channels
- Report the incident to local authorities
- Document everything (screenshots, phone numbers, email addresses)
- Change your passwords if you've shared any credentials
Stay Safe, Stay Informed
Cybersecurity is an ongoing effort. Stay informed about new threats, remain vigilant, and always verify before you trust. Your awareness is your first line of defense against cybercrime.
Remember: When in doubt, contact your bank directly through official channels. They will never be upset that you verified suspicious communication.
Ready for Banking That Puts Security First?
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Visit neobanque.ch to learn more about secure, modern banking solutions designed for your peace of mind.
Stay protected. Stay informed. Bank smarter.