BDO urges seniors to slow down, verify requests as scams evolve

MANILA, Philippines — BDO Unibank Inc. is urging senior citizens to slow down and verify unexpected calls, messages and online requests, warning that pressure to act quickly is a common tactic used in financial scams.

The bank said scammers often create a sense of panic by claiming that an account has been compromised, a transaction needs to be cancelled, rewards are about to expire or personal information must be updated immediately.

BDO said older adults may face added difficulty in identifying digital threats.

It cited a Philippine Institute for Development Studies study based on 2019 National ICT Household Survey data, which found that 18% of Filipinos aged 65 and above had at least one of six ICT skills measured for a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal indicator.

The study described digital skills among older adults as comparatively low.

The bank said the most commonly reported fraud incidents involving its clients include voice phishing, or vishing, in which callers impersonate bank representatives.

BDO said such incidents account for almost half of the scams it reports, followed by phishing involving fake links, websites or emails, and impersonation scams.

BDO said fraudsters may attempt to persuade victims to disclose confidential account information, one-time passwords or other credentials, or to transfer money to another account.

As part of its latest anti-scam guidance, BDO is encouraging seniors to be “W.A.I.S.” — Wise, Alert, Informed and Secure — by pausing before acting, questioning unexpected requests and protecting personal information.

The bank also recommends its S.C.A.M. checklist: stop before clicking links or sharing information; check whether a message or caller is legitimate through official channels; ask a trusted person or the bank for verification when unsure; and make sure account and card information remains private.

BDO said customers should never disclose their username, password, card verification value or CVV, account details or one-time password to another person.

The bank has separately advised customers that it does not ask for sensitive information through text messages, calls, email or social media.

Its official anti-scam guidance also tells customers not to click suspicious links and to end calls from people requesting sensitive account or card information.

BDO’s latest advisory was published on Sept. 25 as part of its continuing #BDOStopScam campaign.

For consumers, the bank’s central message is simple: an unexpected request that demands immediate action should be treated cautiously.

Taking time to verify a request through an official channel can help prevent a rushed decision from becoming a financial loss.