BSP warns public against SMS scams targeting bank accounts

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday warned that any text message containing links claiming to be from banks or e-money issuers is likely a scam.

In a press release, the central bank clarified that legitimate financial institutions will never send links via SMS. Scammers use a tactic called “text hijacking,” inserting fake messages into legitimate threads to make them appear authentic.

“These messages often contain malicious links designed to steal access to victims’ financial accounts and are usually accompanied by urgent prompts such as notifications of expiring rewards, unauthorized transactions, or account verification requests to pressure recipients into clicking the link,” the BSP said.

With reports of fraudulent text messages on the rise, the BSP reiterated the importance of avoiding clicking on links, enabling multi-factor authentication, and never sharing personal or financial details.If an account is compromised, victims should contact their bank or e-money issuer through official channels at https://bit.ly/BSPScamAlert. The BSP also urges the public to report scams to the DICT Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center via https://cicc.gov.ph/report/ and to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Complaint Action Center at https://acg.pnp.gov.ph/contact-us.