Today I received a call from a Telenor number (0346-7442760), he mentioned my name and NIC number and then said that he needs to verify information for my HBL account.
ME: I will not give any information like this, as the bank has advised against it.
Scammer: Okay, no problem, we will call from official helpline number.
I then received a call from 002111111111425. At first glance, it looked like HBL helpline number which is 021111111425. If you look closely, there are two extra 11 in scammer's call. It was actually a call from Brazil.
I answered the phone call (thinking its from official helpline), and there was a different person in the call.
Scammer 2: Sir, we need to verify your account information. He then tells me my NIC and name, and asks for debit card expiry date.
Me: I am still not giving my account information to incoming call, as the number might be spoofed. I will call your helpline, or visit branch.
Scammer 2: Branch can't help you with this verification, it must be done at the head office. If you don't verify, your account will be blocked.
Me: Okay, tell me last 4 digits of my account number.
Scammer 2: We can't give this information because there is so much fraud going on.
Me: Then sorry I can't give you any information. I will visit my bank branch.
Scammer 2: If you don't verify account right now, we will block your account as per state bank instruction, and you will have to go to our head office in Karachi to unblock it.
At that point I knew its a scammer and hung up the call. Then called the bank and asked them if they were verifying my account, which of-course they weren't.
I have received many such calls in the past, but never such a convincing call. So always remember, never give any bank info on incoming calls.
