Alert for attempted fraud of BROU clients: This is how cybercriminals operate

2023-08-16 14:31:08

This email has reached BROU clients in recent days

Customers of Banco República (BROU) They are being the target of a new fraud attempt through the “phishing” modality. It is a type of cybercrime with which they try to deceive people with some tricks so that they share their access information to bank accounts.

Thousands of BROU customers have been receiving emails with the headline “eBROU – Suspicious Activity Identity Verification Required”. With this, the fake email says that “due to suspicious activity and transactions in your account, you will need to perform an identity verification of your eBROU Online.”

Subsequently, it alerts that, “if it is not done in the following 48 hours”, the BROU will temporarily block access to said account “until you approach one of our offices”. “During this time, you will not be able to make any transactions or withdrawals,” the email continues.

Further down in the email, you see a blue button that says “verify user” in capital letters. The person who clicks there goes to a fake site that resembles the Banco República web platform. There, the client is asked to enter their credentials to log in, which should not be done for any reason.

The BROU insists that it will never request security validations in pop-up windows, nor through social networks, email, WhatsApp, telephone or other means outside the bank’s only official channel, which is its website: //www.brou.com.uy/.

What is VISA Secure, which the BROU offers to its clients

It is a global authentication system that increases the security of Internet operations. It consists of adding a code to the VISA card when making purchases online. This allows the Bank to authenticate you as the cardholder and provide you with greater security and peace of mind when using it in businesses that have this technology.

In order for the cards to be protected during online purchases, it is necessary to register for the service. This is done only once and is easy, fast and totally free. Registration applies to all CREDIT and PREPAID cards. Each cardholder (Holder and Additional) must register independently.

To activate the service, follow these steps:

Enter to //www.e-sistarbanc.com.uy/ with username and password. In the Visa Secure section, complete the form with your Identity Card, last 6 digits of your VISA card, email and cell phone. Confirm.

We show you how here!

Its operation is simple and consists of 3 stages:

Make the purchase at a Visa Secure participating merchant and when paying, enter your VISA card details. You will receive a single-use code simultaneously by SMS to your cell phone and by email to the registered email. After verification, a window will open in which you must review the data and enter the code that we sent you. Finish the purchase.

Code verification only applies to Visa Secure participating merchants, but does not prevent purchases from non-participating merchants. Purchases in non-participating businesses will continue to be made only with the registration of the card details.