SCAM ALERT

Please be informed that fraudsters can gain access to your email account and therefore, have access to your sensitive and confidential information.

They can do this by requesting you to update your personal bank details through several means, including:

• Claiming that the bank has launched a new and secure online banking site
• The process is in line with the new CBG cashless policy
• The customers will not be able to log on to their online banking site if they do not migrate to the new one
• They are instructed to click on a link in the email
• They are asked to provide their username, password and a token code
• They emphasize that it is mandatory to enter the token code, and most time it is written in CAPITAL letters.

Access Bank would not require sensitive and confidential information from its customers. Information like token, password, full card details and PINs is private to the customer and would not be requested by Access Bank either via email or telephone.

Some of the features of a genuine Access Bank online page are indicated below: 

• The address field is https://ibank.accessbankplc.com/ContactCentre/

• Besides customer login, there is an icon like a padlock
• As you enter your username and click on submit, you would be asked to enter your password and check your secure image
• Your secure image is the image you selected when you registered on the online banking platform
• Your token is only required when you are making transfers to third parties within Access Bank or to other banks’ customers

Card Security Tips

Follow these steps and protect your card details from fraudsters:

• Access Bank and its partner card schemes (Visa) will never send you an email asking for confidential information such as account numbers, passwords, PINs, credit card numbers or social security numbers.
• Protect yourself from fraudulent e-mails (phishing) claiming to be from a credit card company, a bank’s website or any other website for that matter. 
• Delete unsolicited e-mail or SMS that ask for this type of personal information. If you suspect you've provided confidential information to a fraudulent site or individual, contact the customer service number on the back of your card or your account statement. 
• You can report e-mail fraud claiming to be from any of our partner card schemes by forwarding the suspicious message to: contactcentre.Gm@accessbankplc.com

Take note of the following tips:

• Never write down your Personal Identification Number (PIN)–memorise it!
• Never disclose PINs to anyone.
• Ensure you sign the signature panel on your card as soon as the card is received.
• Make sure your card is returned after every purchase.
• Never give card numbers over the phone, unless you have initiated the call.
• Always verify the transaction amount before signing the sales receipt.
• When selecting a PIN, do not choose numbers and letters that can be easily identified. Avoid using initials, phone numbers or birth dates.
• Make a record of card account numbers and telephone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards. Keep this list in a safe place.
• Know who has access to your cards.
• Do not leave cards in the glove compartment of your car.
• Report lost or stolen cards to your issuing bank immediately.
• Always check sales vouchers to verify that the amount on the customer copy of the receipt matches the amount recorded on the merchant copy.
• Report suspicious activities to your issuing bank.
• Do not use your card to make purchases online on websites you are not sure of its security.

Some of those websites do not require your PIN for payments to be made from your account. If it is a fraudulent website, your card details can be used to make purchases online.

Your card is as important as your PIN.

Get in touch with us

SEND US AN EMAIL HERE: contactcentre.Gm@accessbankplc.com 

You can also call us on: +220 6611996, +2206611406,   + 2202383716

ATM SECURITY TIPS

• Be mindful of your surroundings; if the machine is poorly lit or in a secluded area, use another ATM.
• Lock car doors and roll up windows when using drive-through ATMs.
• Do not leave keys or valuables in the car when using an ATM.
• Have your card ready to avoid having to go through your purse or wallet.
• Make sure that no one nearby can view your PIN or transaction amount.
• Do not count cash while standing at an ATM; put your cash, card, and receipt away immediately.
• After completing an ATM transaction, remember to take your card and transaction record; do not leave your receipt behind. Check it against your monthly statements.
• If your card becomes stuck inside an ATM, be suspicious of anyone offering their help, even if they appear to be a bank security officer. Do not accept help from strangers.
• Do not ask strangers to help you make withdrawals with your card.
• Do not give your PIN to a stranger to assist you.
• Protect your card and PIN.

ATM FRAUD: THE RECENT TREND

Please do not acknowledge any PROMO, SMS or PHONE CALL notifying you of a cash prize, even if it is from a Telecoms provider, e.g. Africell, Qcell, Comuim and Gamcell.

You might also be asked to go to the nearest ATM to enter some numbers before you can claim your prize. Please call the Telecom provider to ascertain the genuineness of the PROMO, SMS or PHONE CALL before committing yourself. Stay safe by staying alert.

ONLINE SECURITY TIPS

• Register for Verified by Visa if you use a Vpay or Visa card. Keep usernames and passwords secret.
• Use the latest version of your browser's software and check to be sure your computer's operating system software is up to date.
• Use only secure Internet browsers that allow secure transmission of data. Identify security clues such as the 'closed lock' icon at the bottom of the browser or a URL that begins with https://. These signs indicate that only you and the merchant can view payment information.
• Only give card details when you initiate a purchase.
• Keep a record of transactions and review monthly statements thoroughly.
• Before making a purchase, check the site’s delivery and return policies to ensure that items can be returned if they are not in satisfactory condition.
• Never respond to an e-mail request for personal or account information, even if it appears to be from a trusted source.

TRAVEL TIPS

Before you embark on your trip

Contact your card issuing bank and let them know you’ll be travelling, so they will not consider the transactions suspicious.

Check the expiry dates on your cards to make sure they are not due to expire during your trip.

Check the amount of credit available to you during the trip, as well as your account balance if you plan on using your debit card.

Banks have restrictions on daily withdrawals that apply even when you are abroad. Check with them so you’ll know how much you can take out each day. If you use the ATMs/cash points for pocket money and charge the major expenses, such as hotels, to your payment cards, your withdrawal limit won’t be a problem.

Make a record of credit card account numbers and telephone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards. It’s a good idea to make a copy of everything in your wallet, including credit card numbers, and keep that in a safe place.

Use a Visa card to purchase your tickets. This will ensure that you have a receipt as proof of purchase in case you lose your tickets or if the trip is cancelled. Check Visa’s currency conversion website to give you an indication of the rate you may receive abroad using your Visa card. In most instances, it may offer a more competitive rate than changing either cash or travellers’ cheques at a bureau de change or your hotel.

During Your Trip

The easiest way to get local currency is through the Visa/Plus ATM network in 170 countries. Check the arrival and baggage claim areas at international airports for the Visa/Plus ATM signs for easy access to local currency when you arrive in a foreign country, or visit the ATM Locator to find an ATM in the city you are visiting.

If your Visa card is either lost or stolen, Visa is only a phone call away. Visa’s Customer Care Services are as close as the nearest telephone. No need for agents, bureau or face-to-face reporting. Simply call the toll-free (free of charge) number Visa provides in each country, and you’re linked to the service.

If your card carries the emergency replacement feature, Visa will replace a lost card while you travel within one working day.

Never leave cards unattended at work, in a hotel room, at the pool, the tennis courts, or in a vehicle, locked or unlocked.

Use the safe or security box provided by the hotel for your valuables, and do not carry all your valuables with you on tours, to the pool, etc.

Always keep your sales slip as proof of purchase for customs, as a means of reconciling your account when you get home, and as proof of purchase in case of a dispute. Some merchants can now convert your bill into your home currency. This means the merchant–and not Visa–is converting the currency. As a consumer, you may wish to know the exact price in your home currency at the point of sale, but you should also know that you may be charged extra for this service by the merchant. Visa requires merchants offering this service to inform you of the exchange rate, including any applicable commission being charged.

Print out or download Visa’s convenient currency exchange rate chart to give you an easy-to-understand reference point for prices when you are getting used to buying things in a different currency.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION

Keep your receipts and read your monthly statements carefully. If you see a charge you don’t recognize or if you notice any inconsistencies, contact your credit card provider right away. 

Please be informed that www.gambia.accessbankplc.com remains the only authentic and genuine website of Access Bank Gambia, whose registered head office is at 47 Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, K.S.M.D, The Gambia. 

However, we have uncovered several fictitious websites of some unscrupulous persons sending emails, letters, internet lottery schemes and telephone calls to unsuspecting members of the public by impersonating Directors or staff of the Bank and claiming: 

• To have access to huge US dollar deposits in the Bank held in the names of deceased persons
• Huge US Dollar contract sums due for payment
• Also, be advised that Access Bank Gambia and/or its officers will in no way be liable for any loss by you or any other party about this information or the content of this e-mail

GENERAL SECURITY TIPS

• Store your financial documents, credit cards, passwords, and tokens in a secure location.
• Do not send any personal or sensitive information through email, as the channel is typically not secure
• Report lost or stolen checks and debit/credit cards immediately
• When selecting a Personal Identification Number (PIN), do not use a number or word that appears in your wallets, such as your name, birth date, or phone number
• When shopping online, use secure websites to ensure your purchases are safe. Look for secure transaction signs such as a closed lock icon and “https://...” in the address bar
• Do not immediately open email attachments or click on links in unsolicited or suspicious-looking emails
• Do not overshare on social media by providing information that could be used by the Bank or its customers.
• Do not overshare on social media by providing information that could be used by the Bank or its customers.
• Review the privacy options for the social media platforms you join to understand how to limit the amount of information you share
• Avoid storing your passwords or other sensitive information on your computer, smartphone, or in places where it could be discovered
• When you finish using platforms where you are required to sign in, always log off - do not simply close the browser
• Be careful who you give your account details to, as they can sometimes be used to receive fraudulent inflows without your knowledge or authorisation
• Be confidential with your internet Banking and Card details
• Check and monitor your accounts for any unusual activity

Access Bank will never send you an email containing a link that takes you straight to a webpage where you supply your Access Online or Access mobile login details (Username, Password and Token/PIN)

Access Bank will never send you a text message requesting that you call a number where you supply your card details (full PAN, CVV, Exp Date, OTP/Token)

End the call immediately if a caller is requesting confidential information.

Fraudsters impersonate companies and may even pretend to be Access Bank

representatives

Report all suspicious behaviour or activities to:  gambiawhistleblower@accessbankgambialtd.com

Documents Disposal 

• Always use the shredding machine to dispose of unwanted documents, as it can lead to the disclosure of vital information to the Public or fraudsters if not properly disposed of.
• Documents torn can easily be put together, and sensitive information can be made available to unauthorised persons
• Do not disclose customers' information to 3rd parties, including staff who do not require that information
• You are privileged to have the information about the customer and the Bank, so do not abuse or misuse it.
• The information you are exposed to is for the benefit of the Bank and its customers. Ensure you keep this information confidential at all times
• If you received a new debit or credit card, cut up and discard your old card
• Ask for a shredding machine if you do not have one.

Scam Mail Fraud 

Did you receive an email asking you for your token, PIN, or Internet banking details?

Do not respond to the mail, as Access Bank will not ask you for such confidential information.

Instead, forward the mail to our contact centre email address, contactcenter.gm@accessbankplc.com

Be Security Conscious

Confirm account balance from an ATM or bank when you receive a credit alert before releasing goods.

Do not respond to any email requesting your details, such as account number, Card details, Token, PIN, etc.

Access Bank will not request such personal information from you either via mail or phone call.