2022-10-24 | Awas Modus

Beware of Online Loan Scams (Pinjol)

The use of online loan services (known as pinjaman online) is increasingly widespread as an alternative for credit applications. Pinjol doesn't always have a negative connotation if the service provider is officially licensed. However, there are many fraudsters who misuse the online loans trend to commit telephone scams.

Currently, many fraudsters target online loans customers who are also customers of BCA Bank through phone calls or chats, pretending to be customer service representatives of an online loans application.

Many people often become victims of scams due to tempting offers of easy and fast loans or loan top-ups. For them, these offers seem enticing. However, don't rush to believe them. Understand that it is crucial to protect personal data and avoid scams.

Scam Modus Operandi Impersonating Online Loans Disbursement

Here are the scam modus operandi through phone calls or WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers, pretending to be customer service representatives of an online loans application.

The fraudsters will pretend to contact the customer and claim to be an official representative of a Pinjol application. This is possible when the perpetrator has customer data from the Pinjol application or just randomly generated.

Usually, the fraudsters engages in friendly conversation until the victim feels emotionally connected. The perpetrator will then offer online loans or loan limit top-ups and transfer the funds to the victim's personal account. In order to disburse the loan, the victim will be asked to provide verification data.

If the victim happens to be a BCA Bank customer, they will be asked to provide personal data such as ID card, account number, BCA ATM card, PIN, or OTP. Be cautious and never send personal banking data to anyone, even if they claim to be an official bank representative.

How to Avoid Online Loans Fraud

To avoid becoming a victim of such scams, consider the following tips:

  • Don't immediately trust calls claiming to be from the Customer Service of a Pinjol application. Investigate and confirm their authenticity first.
  • Always maintain the confidentiality of personal banking data such as ATM card number, PIN, CVV/CVC, OTP code, and others. If someone claiming to be from Pinjol or anyone else asks for such data, do not fall victim to the scam.
  • If you encounter an online loans scam, report it immediately to your bank's authorities. For BCA Bank customers, report it through the Halo BCA hotline at 1500888, without any prefixes such as 021, +62, etc. Alternatively, you can report it through the haloBCA application, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Play Store.

If you want to learn more about the latest banking scams, make sure to stay informed at www.bca.co.id/awasmodus

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