By Hassan Osman Kargbo

In a bid to prevent or protect their valued customers from scammers or in any fraudulent acts, the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLBC) has in a press release dated 7 September 2023, cautioned their valued customers and by extension citizens about the ongoing scams or fraudulent activities in the country.

According to the release, the SLCB is concerned about the recent reports of scammers using their name or their reputable brand to deceive and defraud unsuspecting individuals of their hard-earned money, and it continued that, SLCB has taken the matter very seriously and wished to caution their valued customers and the general public about the ongoing scams.

The release furthered that, there has been a rise in fraudulent activities where scammers impersonate SLCB representatives through phone calls, emails, text messages and social media platforms.

‘In recent times, there has been a rise in fraudulent activities where scammers impersonate SLCB representatives through phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media platforms. These criminals are adepts at creating convincing and deceptive communications, often promising financial information’, part of the release stated.

SLCB through the press release outlined measures that will help their valued customers and citizens not to fall victim to scammers or fraudsters in the country. These measured that they outlined are: Be Skeptical, Verify the Source, Protect your personal information, and finally Report suspicious activity.

“Be Skeptical: Always be cautious when receiving unsolicited communication claiming to be from SLCB. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Verify The Source: if you receive a call, email, or message from someone claiming to represent SLCB, independently verify their identity by contacting the bank directly through official channels. Do not use the contact information provided by the scammer. Protect Your Personal Information: Never share sensitive personal or financial information, such as your account number, Pin, or passwords, with anyone over the phone or online, unless you are certain of the recipient’s authenticity. Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter any suspicious activity or believe you have been targeted by a scam using SLCB’s name, please report it to your local law enforcement authorities and notify the bank immediately. Your prompt reporting can help us take appropriate action against these fraudsters,’ the release noted.

It continued that SLCB is committed to ensure the safety and security of their customers and the general public, adding that SLCB is working with the law enforcement agencies to investigate and combat those fraudulent activities.

The SLCB assured it customers that they will never engage in unsolicited communications asking for personal or financial information and noted that they had never endorsed or participate in any fraudulent schemes.

SLCB urged all customers to stay vigilant and follow the precautions outlined above, and noting that by working together, they can protect individuals and their community from falling victim to scams and maintain the integrity of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank – SLCB.