Scam alert: Do not click links in text messages saying your ‘BDO’ or 'UnionBank’ account has been blocked

Have you been getting texts from your bank telling you to recover your blocked account through an online link? BDO and UnionBank have issued a statement regarding the issue, reminding users that they do not send links in messages.

In the past week, users on social media have been posting about receiving SMS messages from scammers using the official BDO and UnionBank name. The messages usually tell users their account has been blocked due to "illegal transactions" and that they can report the fake incident via a suspicious link.

One user who clicked on the suspicious link was redirected to a site that looks like BDO's official site. The URL, however, was different from the bank's.

"Scammers are sending out fake BDO messages with links to get accountholders' information. Remember: We will never send text messages with links that ask you to file reports or log in to your account," BDO said in a statement on May 25.

Similarly, UnionBank said they do not send links on any communications. "UnionBank will not ask you to click on links nor ask you to provide these information via call, email, or SMS," the company said.

Earlier in March, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas released a memorandum that states that the banking, financial services, and insurance sector should remove clickable links in emails or SMS sent to customers.

These scams are a form of smishing, a phishing attack aiming to get individuals to reveal personal details and passwords.

PhilSTAR L!fe has also reached out to the National Telecommunications Commission regarding the issue.