WHEN TRUST BECOMES COSTLY THE HIDDEN TOLL OF BANKING FRAUD
Hilma was 61 years old, retired, and proud of the small nest she had built after decades of hard work. Every month, she sat at her kitchen table, carefully balancing her budget: medical bills, home renovations, and a little something for her grandchildren.
One morning, the phone rang. The caller addressed her by name, spoke politely, and said they were calling from her bank. They knew she had just received her pension payout, information that made the call sound completely legitimate. The voice on the line warned her that someone was trying to hack into her account and that urgent action was needed to secure her funds.
He guided her through a series of “verification steps,” asking for her ID number, card PIN, and a one-time password sent to her phone. Within minutes of hanging up, her account was emptied.
Her funds for medication and emergencies had vanished. The caller’s tone had been calm, reassuring, even professional. Like many others, she believed she was doing the right thing to protect her money.
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28/10/2025 | Josefina Oskar
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