Bubiyan urges travelers to beware of digital fraud tactics during the travel season

Continuing its sustained support for the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait in collaboration with the Kuwait Banks Association, Boubyan Bank is intensifying its efforts to raise banking awareness as travel activity increases during the summer season. The bank is highlighting key fraud tactics that may target travelers, given the growing reliance on digital channels and services while on the go.

The bank explained that the rapid development of digital services—which offer convenience in booking flights and accommodation, making payments, and managing bank accounts while traveling—has been accompanied by a parallel evolution in electronic fraud methods. Fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the travel season to carry out more professional and convincing scam attempts.

Among the most prominent tactics are impersonating airlines, hotels, or online booking platforms, and sending messages or creating fake websites that mimic official entities. These are designed to lure users into sharing their personal or banking details or to carry out payments through untrusted links.

The bank emphasized that protecting personal and banking data begins with verifying the source of messages and electronic links before interacting with them, and refraining from making any bookings or payments except through official websites and applications. It also advised against falling for offers that pressure users into making hasty decisions or completing urgent payments.

Furthermore, the bank stressed the importance of using secure digital channels when conducting banking transactions while traveling, and avoiding the use of public Wi-Fi networks for financial operations or logging into bank accounts. It also urged customers to closely monitor real-time notifications for bank accounts and cards to detect any unusual activity.

The bank called for diversifying payment methods while traveling, rather than relying on a single bank card, and for ensuring the security of ATMs and payment terminals before use. It also warned against sharing passwords or one-time passwords (OTPs) with any party, regardless of their claimed identity or justification.

Boubyan reaffirmed that awareness remains the first line of defense against evolving fraud tactics, noting that verifying information before sharing any data or conducting any financial transaction significantly helps mitigate the risk of falling victim to fraud. It reiterated its commitment to continuing its awareness efforts under the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign, thereby enhancing banking culture and digital security across all segments of society.