Running a business can be tedious. And as a business owner, taking preventive measures to avoid losses is a necessity. Even in little aspects, such as dealing with criminal-minded customers!
Fake bank alert scams are on the rave now. Scammers use SMS software and applications that copy bank alert transactions. Often, their targets include businesses that offer products or services that they want. They deceive uninformed salespersons with fake credit alerts they generate. And part the store with the items, duping you and leaving you with stock loss.
Thus, you must be able to distinguish a real alert from a fake one. It will enable your business to thrive despite the prevalence of this scam.
Do you have a business or personal account with FirstBank? Here’s how you can be one step ahead of fake credit alert fraudsters claiming the appearance of decent customers. Keep reading for signs that will help you tell if the credit alert you received is authentic or a phony.
Things to look out for in a Real First Bank Credit Alert
01. Correct Sender ID:
The sender ID you should get SMS credit alerts from as a First bank user is ‘FirstBank’. A slight difference in the name means it's not from the source, your Bank. It is a counterfeit ID. Examine the name closely.
02. Check the Message Thread:
It is important that you look at the alert notification sent to you and when you do so, make sure you can see previous records of credit and debit alerts sent to you. This is because some scammers can copy the Sender ID with no mistakes. But if you don’t see any previous message threads you can be sure that the sender is not your bank and that it’s a different number.
03. Credit Alert Format:
This is a very significant detail that can help you tell the difference between a real first bank alert and a forged one. The layout of credit alerts changes along with the bank. This means that First Bank and Zenith Bank cannot have the same credit alert format and so on. Written below is a sample of a FirstBank credit alert:
Your Acct 312XXXX518 Has Been Credited with NGN24,000.00 On 23-FEB-2022 15:28:26 By FIP: FCM/LARA HENSHAW/Employee Salary. Bal:NGN1,900,645.25CR
Pay close attention to the layout. Even the smallest deviation from it means the credit alert you received is a fake.
04. Confirm Total Balance:
When you receive a credit alert from someone you don’t know, another method you can use to check if it’s real is by checking the available balance written in the credit alert. If it matches what you have in your account then it’s good to go. Most scammers if not all can’t be accurate there because they have no idea how much you have.
05. Check Account Balance:
Before allowing a client to part with any product or service you offer, if you still don’t trust the validity of the credit alert he/she has sent you, it would be in your best interest to check if the payment has been reflected in your account. You can do this, using the FirstBank Mobile App or through USSD. The USSD code to check your FirstBank account balance is *894*00#. The amount you see will determine if the alert is fake or real.
CONCLUSION
Through Bulk SMS services and Messaging apps are misused by fraudulent ones to trick people for their gain, they started as legitimate ways for getting genuine messages to people and they still are! Especially for marketing purposes. You can inform clients and business associates of new products, send promotional and appreciative messages and ask for feedback about the services you provide all with this tool. It is still one of the cheapest ways of business marketing. Don’t know what to send? Get free sample messages you can use to send to your customers/clients.
At SmartSMSSolutions, you can give your business and personal communication a huge boost using Bulk SMS, voice, Email and other services all at a low cost. Sign up for a free account at smartsmssolutions!
It might have seemed impossible to distinguish a fake alert from a real one at the onset, but it clearly isn't! It is highly possible and I'm certain you can now tell the difference between a legitimate First bank credit alert and a scam using the information above.