A fraudulent website, alatbywema.com, has recently emerged with the intent to deceive users of AlatByWema, a digital banking service by Wema Bank. The site, created on July 30 by an unknown individual in the United States, mimics the legitimate AlatByWema platform and has begun phishing for sensitive information from Wema Bank users under the guise of securing their accounts.
ThePressNG uncovered that this counterfeit website sends deceptive text messages to AlatByWema users, claiming that an unfamiliar phone number has been added to their profile. These messages urge users to log into alatbywema.com to remove the number if they did not authorize the addition. This tactic is designed to create a sense of urgency and prompt users to interact with the fake site.
In one such instance, a Lagos resident received a text message from the impostor on Tuesday morning. The message, falsely claiming to be from AlatByWema, stated that a new phone number had been added to her profile and instructed her to visit alatbywema.com to remove it if she had not done so herself. This message appeared convincing due to its sender ID, “ALATbyWema,” which is nearly identical to the official “ALATbyWEMA” used by the real AlatByWema for communication.
The text from the impostor
The genuine website of AlatByWema is online.alat.ng, while the fraudulent site uses www.alatbywema.com, a URL that closely resembles the legitimate one to trick users. Despite the apparent authenticity of the fake site, it lacks key indicators of legitimacy, such as the licensing information from the Central Bank of Nigeria, which is prominently displayed on the real AlatByWema site.
The original ID AlatByWema uses for SMS
Alarmingly, the fraudulent website has the capability to recognize genuine Wema Bank account numbers. This means that only real account holders can proceed to the next stage of the phishing process, where they are prompted to enter sensitive details. This level of sophistication increases the risk of successful data theft.
ThePressNG reached out to AlatByWema to inquire about the existence of this “new website.” A representative from AlatByWema confirmed that their only official website is online.alat.ng, and they are not associated with alatbywema.com. This confirmation underscores the importance of users being vigilant and only interacting with the verified AlatByWema website.
How the fake website appears
In light of this phishing attempt, Wema Bank users are advised to be extremely cautious and to verify the authenticity of any communication they receive regarding their accounts. It is crucial to avoid clicking on links or providing personal information through any unsolicited messages. Instead, users should directly visit the official AlatByWema website or contact their customer service for any account-related issues.
Source:- ThePressNG