Do you have a Pekao account? Urgent message. You can lose money
Bank Pekao SA has issued an important warning regarding the growing number of fake emails sent by cybercriminals posing as the bank. The aim of the scammers is to obtain personal and financial information, which can lead to serious financial losses and violations of customer privacy.
How do scammers operate?
Scammers often send email messageswhich at first glance look like they come from an official source such as Pekao Bank. They may include a bank logo, appropriate formatting, and professional-looking language to build trust in the recipient. In the content of such emails, criminals often suggest that the user’s bank account has been blocked, there is a problem with the transaction, or it is necessary to log in to the service immediately in order to avoid negative consequences.
These emails usually contain links leading to fake websites. These are very similar to the real bank website. After clicking on such a link, the user may be asked to provide their login details, PESEL number or other personal informationwhich then end up in the hands of fraudsters.
If the victim provides their details, criminals can gain access to their online banking or take out a loan or credit using their details.
– warns Bank Pekao
How to recognize a fake email?
Bank Pekao recommends exercising particular caution towards e-mails that meet the following criteria:
- Unexpected requests: If you receive a message asking you to take some action immediately, especially regarding your finances, it should raise a red flag.
- Suspicious links: Be wary of links that lead to sites with a URL that differs from the bank’s official site. Always hover over the link to see where it actually leads before clicking.
- Attachments: Avoid opening attachments, especially if you weren’t expecting the message. They may contain malware.
- Linguistic errors: Although scammers try to write professionally, their messages often contain grammatical errors, typos, or incorrect punctuation.
The bank also reminds you how you can better take care of the safety of your money, especially if you are a Pekao customer:
- If a message from your bank makes you anxious, do not act on emotions. Call our hotline (+48 519 222 222) and verify the information from the email.
- Before logging in to the Pekao24 website, always check if the website address is correct – https://www.pekao24.pl/logowanie.
- On the login page of the Pekao24 website, never enter your full password. Your password is masked when you log in – enter only single characters in the empty fields.
- Read authorization messages carefully and do not confirm transactions that were not ordered by you.
- If you have an active PeoPay application, when logging in to the Pekao24 online service use two-factor login. Check out how to enable two-factor authentication on our website.
- Remember that you can block your PESEL number on the mObywatel websitethen no one will be able to use it without your knowledge. You can withdraw the PESEL number blocking at any time, indefinitely, or by specifying the date and time when the system will automatically block it again (e.g. until the finalization of the agreement with the bank, which you want to conclude via remote communication channels).
What to do if you receive a suspicious email?
In case of receiving a suspicious email, Bank Pekao recommends delete it immediately without opening any attachments or clicking on any links. It is also worth contacting the bank via the hotline or directly via the official website to report such incidents. It is also worth:
- Change login passwords for the Pekao24 online service and the PeoPay application.
- File a report of a suspected crime with the law enforcement authorities, i.e. the police or prosecutor’s office, and inform your bank about it.
