Since most transactions and services—such as filling out applications for benefits as part of citizen support programs—are now provided almost exclusively online, citizens should be extremely cautious about messages and calls they receive from third parties purporting to provide assistance.

A typical example is cases where benefit recipients power pass ή fuel pass receive emails, text messages, and even phone calls from «so-called» accountants, tax officials, or employees of various organizations, in order for the process to move forward.

In this context, the Hellenic Bank Association (HBA), which has been participating in the public awareness campaign against online fraud since last year, has updated the section on its website titled «Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Types of Fraud in Electronic Payments and Investments.».

This is the question that reads:

Question: Recently, I’ve been receiving phone calls from unknown numbers, as well as emails and text messages, and the people contacting me claim they’re calling about Power Pass or Fuel Pass benefits, the tax lottery, or tax refunds, etc. In fact, they claim to be accountants or employees/representatives of the Tax Office, gov.gr, HEDNO, EFKA, OPEC, OAED, etc., and they ask me for various details related to my bank accounts. I didn’t believe the people who called me, nor did I click on the links in the emails and text messages, and I didn’t give out any of my information. Did I do the right thing?;

Answer: Yes, you did the right thing. This is attempts to deceive. If you had continued The scammer would ask you for your e-Banking login credentials and try to transfer money from your accounts. You should be extremely cautious and never disclose your e-banking passwords, your card information, or any one-time passwords (OTPs).

More generally, as has been pointed out in the context of the relevant public awareness campaign, fraudsters focus primarily on new ways to deceive and defraud citizens by obtaining their personal account information (PINs, passwords, etc.) as well as on scams involving investment products that promise—as the scammers claim—high returns.

In this context, a public information and awareness campaign on online fraud was launched at the end of 2021, in collaboration with the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Bank of Greece, the Hellenic Police, and the Hellenic Bank Association (HBA), has played a decisive role in reducing the number of cyberfraud incidents for the first time following the steady rise seen in recent months, a development that inspires optimism but leaves no room for complacency.

In recent months, as part of the latest public information and awareness campaign on cybersecurity, the EET website has posted, among other things, informative videos and infographics with instructions on how to recognize and protect against various types of online fraud, such as:

*fraudulent phone calls (vishing), fraudulent SMS messages (smishing), fraudulent emails (phishing),

*CEO fraud,

*fraud involving invoices and other documents (invoice fraud),

*spoofed bank websites,

*online dating scams (romance scams),

*theft of personal data,

*investment scams,

*online shopping scams,

*alleged technical support scams, , and

*Fraud involving SIM card swapping.

Customers can view all relevant information and informational materials at the link

https://www.hba.gr/News/Details/2061