Police warn of phishing scams targeting bank accounts in Albania and North Macedonia

Police authorities in Albania and North Macedonia have issued warnings regarding a surge in phishing scams targeting citizens via SMS and communication applications like WhatsApp.

In these schemes, fraudsters impersonate bank representatives to trick individuals into clicking suspicious links. The goal is to steal sensitive information, including e-banking credentials, one-time passwords (OTP), PINs, and bank card details. Once obtained, this data is used to perform unauthorized transactions and cause financial loss.

Law enforcement advises the public not to click on links from unknown numbers and to never share passwords or security codes. Authorities emphasize that legitimate banking institutions will never request confidential information through messages containing links. If a user suspects they have been compromised, they are urged to contact their bank immediately to block accounts and report the incident to cybercrime units.