The emotional toll and financial losses caused by vishing scams are on the rise, leaving many Namibians feeling vulnerable and betrayed. In response, Standard Bank Namibia is taking decisive action to protect its clients and restore confidence in digital banking.
Vishing, short for “voice phishing,” is a deceptive tactic where fraudsters impersonate trusted institutions over the phone to extract sensitive banking information. A particularly dangerous variant of this scam involves the use of remote access software like AnyDesk, which scammers convince victims to install under the pretence of offering technical support or resolving banking issues.
Once installed, AnyDesk gives fraudsters full control of the victim’s device, allowing them to access banking apps, intercept one-time passwords, and initiate fraudulent transactions. In some cases, clients unknowingly provided access to their devices, resulting in unauthorized debit card transactions and significant financial losses.
“Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, prompting financial institutions to adapt their strategies in order to effectively manage emerging fraud trends,” said Roxzaan Witbooi, Head: Compliance at Standard Bank Namibia. “We are committed to empowering our clients with the tools and knowledge they need to protect themselves.”
How to identify a vishing call:
- The caller claims to be from your bank or another trusted institution and creates a sense of urgency.
- You are asked to provide sensitive information such as your PIN, password, or OTP (one-time password).
- The caller may request that you install remote access software like AnyDesk or TeamViewer.
- You are told not to contact the bank directly or are discouraged from verifying the call.
- The caller may already have partial information about you to make the call seem legitimate.
Clients can also take proactive steps by stopping their debit cards via internet banking if they suspect fraud and adjusting ATM and POS limits to suit their needs.
Standard Bank reminds all clients: it will never ask for passwords, PINs, or remote access over the phone. If in doubt, hang up and verify with the bank.
“To stay safe, always verify the caller’s identity by contacting the bank directly, never share personal or banking information over the phone unless you initiated the call, and report any suspicious activity to Standard Bank immediately via our fraud hotline at 061 294 9111’, concluded Witbooi.