The Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Fiji has issued an urgent warning to members of the public following a surge in sophisticated phishing scams using fraudulent websites designed to mimic official bank channels and steal customer credentials.
The bank has confirmed having taken swift action to dismantle the threat, though it stresses that customer vigilance remains the first line of defence.
BSP relieving country head Maikash Ali has commended members of the public for verifying suspicious online content directly with the Bank before taking action.
“We moved immediately to disable the identified websites, enhanced our transaction monitoring and are working closely with the Fiji Police Force and other financial institutions to trace and recover funds where possible,” Mr Ali said in a statement.
He said those incidents served as an important reminder that customers should always be cautious when interacting online and to avoid clicking on suspicious content.
“Banks invest significantly in protecting our customers and our digital banking services.
“Unfortunately, criminals continue to target vulnerable members of the public through fake websites, text messages and emails that appear genuine but are designed to deceive.
“We remind our valued customers to stay alert and, when in doubt, contact BSP before providing any personal or banking information,” he added.
Mr Ali reminded customers that the bank would never ask them to disclose their internet banking password, personal identification numbers (TIN) or one-time password (OTP) via telephone, email, SMS or social media.
He advised customers to access internet banking only through BSP’s official channels; never share card number, CVV, passwords, PINs or OTP with anyone; contact the bank immediately if they suspect their banking credentials have been compromised or if they receive an unsolicited OTP.
Mr Maharaj said the bank continued to work closely with relevant authorities and industry partners while supporting affected customers, and monitoring for any further suspicious activity.
He assured customers the bank remained committed to providing safe, securer and trusted digital banking services, and they would continue investing in measures that helped protect customers from evolving cyber-enabled crimes.
