The increasing use of digital tools to do Bank transactions -which was accelerated with the covid-19 pandemic– has caused fraud against users to intensify, mainly through the Identity Theft.
This situation has been recognized by Association of Banks of Mexico (ABM) and to this end, it has launched an intense campaign on different channels, in order to raise awareness among the population so that they are not fooled, warning that a call from the bank “may not be from the bank”.
Julio Carranzavice president of the ABM, comments that this situation has intensified, but not only in Mexico, but worldwide, so it continues and will continue to be a challenge for banks.
“It is a matter of great concern and attention; we give it a lot of follow-up and we try to be very empathic with the client’s situation, ”she says.
However, it specifies that an important part of this problem is because the users themselves, deceived, give confidential information to the fraudsters by different means.
“What is a fact is that if someone gives their credentials, their passwords, to an unknown person, the risk of suffering a loss of assets is very high,” he emphasizes.
Who is also vice president of the board of directors of bancoppelrefers that when entering this digital trendpeople in many cases learn little by little, and therefore there is a higher possibility that they will inappropriately give their credentials or information to someone they should not.
“That is why banking has made a very important emphasis, and I think we have it not only in the media, we have it in the portals, in the branches, in the banking correspondents. Everywhere we have made a great effort to tell people: do not fall for the deception”, he emphasizes.
East type of fraud consists in that, through calls, text messages, email or social media, it is requested, by appearing to be a communication from the bank, confidential information to users. Once this is obtained, the crime is done.
“There is a significant variety of this type of extortion and fraud. That’s what organized gangs do, and people are often naive; but we have to clearly understand that if we give them the password of the ATM or the card or our account number, it is as if I took a check and signed it in white and gave it to someone”, says the manager.
The banker comments that from the bank, they will continue to generate awareness among the population, in addition to the fact that the investments for this are very strong.
“It is a very strong investment, because each bank is making its effort, and also as a union, we are doing this campaign on television and in the media and on cell phones, internet, networks, everywhere,” he emphasizes.
Extensive regulatory agenda
The vice-president of the ABM emphasizes, on the other hand, that there is a extensive regulatory agenda with financial authoritiesin which, he says, there is an important opening.
“There are a number of very important issues, from the various ABM groups,” he says.
One of these is the bank’s proposal that, given the ever-increasing irruption of fintechs in the Mexican financial systemthere is a level floor in regulatory matters for those who carry out the same activities.
“When we talk about the banking in mexico, we are not only talking about the largest banks in the country. We are 50 who are associated with the ABM, and of these there are many boys who participate and compete directly with the fintechwhere we think there is still work to be done, so that the institutions can really compete with the fintech in a very clear way, with an even floor”, he argues.
He comments that the ABM has already made an analysis in this regard and a document has been submitted for a few weeks to the financial authority.
He clarifies that it is not that they are not in favor of competition, but rather that he considers that the floor should be equal for those who carry out the same activity.
“Not that I’m saying that the fintech they don’t work or they are a problem for the development of the economy, on the contrary, I think it is very good that the client always has alternatives”, underlines the manager.
