CNPF WARNING: Protect Your Personal Data to Save Your Money

In recent months, the Republic of Moldova has registered an alarming increase in fraud attempts through which scammers try – and often succeed – in leaving citizens without financial means. The creativity of cybercriminals knows no bounds, and the scenarios used are becoming increasingly diverse and convincing. They use various pretexts to mislead victims and create a sense of urgency or panic.

The goal of scammers is to access your financial resources, and the key to doing so is obtaining your personal data (such as the IDNP, information about income, salaries, or pensions) and your bank card data (card number, 3-digit CVV code, unique passwords received via SMS). With this information, they can directly access your accounts to steal your money or take out quick loans in your name, leaving you with substantial debts.

The most frequent scenarios used in the Republic of Moldova recently:

Fake package (e.g., Nova Poșta / Poșta Moldovei): You receive an SMS notifying you that a package (or letter) cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address or unpaid small fee. You are provided with a link where your card details are requested.

Call from the "telecommunications operator": You are contacted under the pretext of "network optimization", "contract extension", "loyalty points renewal", or "switching to 5G technology". You are asked to dictate codes received on your phone, access links, or install applications, thereby granting them full access to your phone.

Fake loan approval: A so-called representative of a lending company or bank calls to say your "loan has been approved", even though you have not submitted any application. To "cancel" the loan or receive the funds, you are urgently asked for your personal and card details.

Fake raffles and prizes: You are called to inform you that you have won a prize in a raffle, received a donation, or an inheritance. To claim them, you are asked to pay a "validation fee" or provide your details.

Pretexts from state institutions/utilities: Scammers pose as employees from the city hall, Tax Office, other state institutions, or service providers (e.g., Water-Sewage for "urgent meter replacement"). They request data on income, pensions, or family composition, claiming they are performing recalculations or checks.

SAFETY GUIDE: WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO?

What you must NEVER do:

DO NOT disclose to anyone your personal data (full name, address, date of birth, IDNP, other confidential data) and banking data (card number, expiration date or CVV code (the 3 digits on the back), the name of your bank or bank accounts).

DO NOT transmit confirmation codes received from the bank or telecommunications operator. None of these institutions will ever ask you for such codes!

DO NOT access links received via suspicious SMS messages or messengers (Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp) and do not install requested applications.

DO NOT provide information about income, salaries, or pensions to unknown persons.

Any call received from an unknown person should put you on guard.

What you must do immediately:

Hang up the call if the person on the other end insists on obtaining personal information or rushes you to make a decision.

Verify the information with the official source. Call the bank, telecommunications company, or utility institution directly using their official number to confirm if the call was legitimate. Use the official number from their websites, not the number from which you were contacted.

Notify your bank and the police (if applicable) if you have successfully entered card details or provided confidential information. Also, immediately block the card via the banking application.

Only through awareness can we protect each other. Discuss these risks with your family and friends.

CNPF rejects the slanderous, defamatory, unfounded, and manipulative statements published in the press by Double Case SRL and its representatives regarding the activities of the institution and its management.

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