Thousands of messages have been sent to warn bank customers in the Kingdom of swindlers trying to gain access to their online bank accounts.

Swindling operations are carried out by tempting an account holder to reveal his personal details with the help of malicious software, known as “malware,” the message said.

“Saudi banks have undertaken awareness campaigns to warn customers against any risks posed to them as part of the banks’ commitment to protect their customers,” said Talat Hafez, secretary-general of the Media and Awareness Committee of Saudi Banks.

The message warns customers making online transactions against downloading mToken or opening any link to a program, he said.

“Customers should immediately delete suspicious programs found on their mobile phones or personal computers and should never supply any information to such programs. In addition, banks should be immediately informed,” he said.

Customers should also firewall their accounts with antivirus programs and should not download any program except those coming from trustworthy sources, the message said.

Similar warnings were earlier issued by Al-Rajhi Bank and the National Commercial Bank.

Hafez added that even "sleeping accounts" are not safe from swindlers. More than 90 percent of sleeping accounts belong to individuals, said Saeed Al-Sheikh, first vice president and senior economist at the National Commercial Bank.






He added that 80 percent of customer transactions in Saudi Arabia are made online, a figure which is almost comparable to any advanced country in the world.