This message, apparently very true, is false and it is easy to be trapped.
It is a message which, on first reading, challenges and provokes an almost immediate reaction. It must be said that when you receive an alert that affects your bank account, the first instinct is to act and, therefore, follow the instructions to keep control of your money. This is the problem: by acting quickly, there is the risk of doing it wrong and making an irreparable error. Some French people recently learned this the hard way.
Since the end of May, thousands of people have received an SMS alerting them of an “action” to take for their bank account. “In order to maintain access to our services, please identify yourself,” by clicking on the attached link, the message indicates. At the origin of the communication, Société Générale. Well almost. In reality, the sender is much murkier and the link inserted following it is even more opaque.
Many customers of the bank have recently received a message which states that a security update has been implemented by the banking establishment and that it is necessary to continue accessing their online account , log in by clicking on the link provided in the SMS. Many of the 9 million “SG” customers could be tempted to do so. Especially since once the link is opened, everything suggests that it is truly the bank’s site.
The connection interface to Société Générale is redone identically and there is nothing to suggest, visibly, a scam. Especially since it is well put together: once the connection identifier and password are registered on the fake site, you must click on “Validate” and this opens the page of the real Société Générale site. However, it is impossible to go back to the fake site, which has just recorded your customer number and your confidential code to connect in your place and carry out dishonest transactions.
If you have unfortunately completed the process, there is no point in beating yourself up, the time has come to correct your mistake. The first instinct is to call your bank advisor and explain the situation to him: first of all, this will allow him to know that particular vigilance must be paid to the movements of your account; Furthermore, he will be able to quickly offer you solutions to limit the consequences of your error.
Despite numerous alerts of all kinds, many French people are still fooled by these false messages. To protect yourself from any scam, we constantly repeat that you should never click on the links received in SMS or emails, unless you have been warned beforehand. To do this, especially for your bank account, nothing could be simpler: call your advisor beforehand and/or go to your bank’s website to see if an official communication has been made.