Caller ID Spoofing

An increasing threat of a new type of telephone fraud known as “Caller ID Spoofing” has merged internationally. According to it, fraudsters manipulate caller ID services to make their phone number appear as if it belongs to the victim’s bank. This deceptive technique convinces unsuspecting customers that they are receiving a legitimate call from their bank.

Using social engineering tactics, scammers pose as bank representatives or customer service agents, claiming to be calling about urgent security issues, suspicious transactions, account verification, or necessary security updates. Their ultimate goal is to trick victims into revealing sensitive banking information, such as:

• Usernames and passwords for online banking (e-banking),
• Bank card numbers and PINs,
• One-time passwords (OTPs) used to authorize transactions.

On January 8, 2025, the Hellenic Bank Association (HBA) issued a press release warning the public, by emphasizing that banks never ask customers to disclose such confidential details over the phone or via email. It is strongly recommended that if someone receives a suspicious call, they should immediately hang up and contact their bank directly using the official phone numbers listed on the bank’s website or official documents.

For more information and fraud prevention tips, or the original press release, please visit the HBA website: https://www.hba.gr/Media/Details/581