“Recently, there have been several instances in which unidentified individuals have contacted citizens via the WhatsApp mobile application and other communication channels, falsely claiming to be representatives of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). In addition, these individuals are unlawfully using the official logo of the NBG,” the NBG said.

According to the NBG, these individuals offer citizens alleged assistance in settling loan obligations supposedly owed to the NBG, as well as in carrying out other similar financial operations.

“In one particular case, a citizen was informed that potential unauthorized access to their personal banking data and an attempted loan activation had been detected. To supposedly verify this, the individual was instructed to log in to their internet and/or mobile banking account using their credentials.

During these communications, users are also asked to provide the login credentials required to access their internet and/or mobile banking accounts, including their username and password, as well as other personal and financial information.

Please note that if such information is disclosed, fraudsters may gain access to your bank accounts, creating a risk of unauthorized transactions and resulting in financial loss or damage.

The National Bank of Georgia urges citizens to exercise particular caution and vigilance. Do not disclose your personal or financial information, including the username and password required to access your internet and/or mobile banking accounts. Furthermore, do not enter such information into suspicious links sent by unknown individuals, and do not attempt to carry out banking or payment card transactions through them. If you encounter such a situation, please contact the relevant law enforcement authorities.

We remind you that, as part of its efforts to protect the rights of financial sector consumers, the National Bank of Georgia periodically publishes warning and educational information on commonly used financial fraud schemes. Relevant materials are available on the official website of the National Bank of Georgia and its financial education website,” the NBG said.