It looks like help, sounds like help, but it’s a scam in disguise. A new wave of online fraud is targeting worried bank customers with fake “security checks” designed to steal your money — and it’s working.

Imagine this: You’re scrolling through social media and spot a post offering a free check to see if your debit card has been compromised in a data breach. Seems helpful, right? That’s what Sarah thought — until she took a closer look.

The post asked for her card number and CVV, and even gave a phone number to call for “assistance.” But instead of following the bait, Sarah remembered a key warning from her bank: Never share your PIN or card details online. She called her bank directly — and confirmed it was a scam.

Others weren’t so lucky.

This new scam uses fear and fake urgency to trick people into handing over sensitive financial details. Once scammers have your info, they can drain your account in minutes.

What’s more alarming? Criminals are now using AI tools to supercharge their scams — creating realistic emails, websites, and even fake customer service chats to fool victims faster and on a bigger scale.

Here’s how to stay safe:

• Think before you click – Don’t trust links or forms asking for personal info.
• Call, don’t click – If in doubt, contact your bank directly using official numbers.
• Be suspicious of urgency – Scammers love making you panic.
• Don’t share your CVV, PIN, OTP, or account info with anyone — even if they claim to be from the bank.

Equity Bank reminds customers: All official calls come from 0763 000 000, and any suspicious numbers or messages should be reported to 333 for free.