Phishing Fraud

Online Banking Security

Your security on the Internet is just as important for us as it is for you. In the following points, you will find tips and valuable information about security issues that you may encounter while using online banking or the Internet in general. It is highly recommended to read the information at least once, and apply the guidelines or refer to them when needed.

• You should be cautious of people who ask for  information such as  your date of birth and identity number. Such information is only requested when you call (+974) 4440 7777
• You should be cautious about sharing your private information on messaging services, in chat rooms or in e-mails, even if they are sent from people you know well.
• It is highly recommended not to share any personal or sensitive information (such as your password, PIN or credit card number) to parties that are not trusted. You have the right not to provide any information when you are in doubt. 

• Never access the QNB online banking site from a link in an e-mail.
• QNB will never request your personal information or your password by e- mail. In fact, the bank will never ask for any information to be provided through e-mails or SMS. If the e-mail you have received is forwarding you to a website for you to enter your personal information and password, you should immediately call (+974) 4440 7777 and report the incident to the bank. 

You should avoid using same password for Online Banking and your social media or emails or any other online access that require a passwords. This will minimize your risk exposure and prevent fraudster to guess your password easily. In case you forget your password, you can reset it by using the  password reset link available on the login page.

Every time you want to use Internet Banking, you should type  qnb.com in the address (URL) bar of your browser (or by ensuring that you add qnb.com to your favorite list of websites on your browser), and click the Internet Banking link on that page. This is an effective precaution against phishing attacks. It is a good practice to verify the URL whenever you have a doubt that you are not accessing the legitimate bank website. 

You should never perform banking transactions on publicly accessible computers such as those in internet cafes, hotels, airports or computers that lack up-to-date anti-virus programs. There will be unknown risks when using untrusted devices.

Prevention is better than cure. To be secure during the use of online services provided on the internet, it is highly recommended to have an up-to-date anti-virus and other anti-malware softwares installed on your computer (and devices) such as Kaspersky Virus Scanne, Panda Software, McAf VirusScan, McAfee Firewall Plus and Webroot Security Software.

• It will help you to protect your private information even if you visit a fake website.
• Even if there is a malicious software on your computer, it will minimize its effects.
• It provides protection against the latest viruses through automatic updates.
• It protects against malware softwares that impersonate your identity by collecting sensitive information from your device or computer, which can be used to access your accounts without your authorization. 

Your mobile phone and tablet device may hold personal and sensitive information. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the following guidelines to strengthen your security on mobile devices:

• Setting and using a security PIN code (to allow for mobile device locking)
• Adjusting your phone’s settings so that it locks automatically if you don't use it for five or ten    minutes
• Not storing passwords or other sensitive information on your phone in a way that can be understood by someone else
• Be wary of voicemail and text message scams. Clicking on links in text messages can be risky - be careful when you attempt to click on links, and make sure that the source of the message and the visited site are authentic
• Attackers may also create fake mobile applications that look like the authentic legitimate ones so when you try to log on, they can steal your password and other sensitive information about you. Make sure that mobile applications are downloaded from trusted application stores and recognized publishing sources.
• Only download and install applications from trusted application stores such as  the App Store and Google Play
• If you lose your phone, report it to your mobile phone provider immediately. 

In order to keep you notified on important events for extra protection of your online security, a valid and updated mobile number must be registered with QNB. Please make sure that your mobile number and contact details are up to date by visiting any of our branches. Only local mobile numbers are allowed to be registered to reduce fraud. In case you are travelling or outside the country, please call our contact center on (+974) 4440 7777 for help and further inquiries.