Additional Measures to Protect You Against Phishing Scams
Updated 20 July 2022
Starting Friday (21 January 2022), DBS will stop sending non-essential SMSes. DBS will send only essential SMSes to our retail and wealth customers until further notice. They include security and trade notifications, and OTP authentication - these will have no clickable links.
These measures are in addition to the industry measures. They are:
Update on threshold limits for card transactions notification alerts
- Effective 20 July 2022, DBS has lowered the threshold limit for all DBS/POSB cards for notification alerts to S$500. Your threshold limit settings will not be changed if you have previously set a preferred alert threshold of S$500 and below.
- This applies to all card transactions (including cash advance) made via AMEX, Mastercard, NETS, UnionPay or Visa. This is in line with industry wide anti-fraud measures to bolster card security. If you do not select a preferred alert threshold, the default setting is now S$500.
- You may review and amend your existing threshold limit in receiving card transactions notification alerts via digibank Online. Learn more.
No clickable links in emails or SMS sent to retail customers
How can I differentiate a scam SMS/ Email from an official one from the bank?
Our SMS and email notifications will not include clickable links. Alerts in the form of push notifications continue to appear only via our digibank app.
If you are unsure of any messages you’ve received, access your bank account via the official banking or payment app, or key in the bank’s URL directly into the browser. Alternatively, you may call us at 1800 111 1111.
Our SMS and email notifications will not include clickable links. Alerts in the form of push notifications continue to appear only via our digibank app.
If you are unsure of any messages you’ve received, access your bank account via the official banking or payment app, or key in the bank’s URL directly into the browser. Alternatively, you may call us at 1800 111 1111.
A $100 default threshold for funds transfer transaction notifications to customers
What does this mean for me?
Your funds transfer transaction notification alerts will be set at $100 by default by end January 2022 . Please be assured that your notification settings will not be changed if you have set a threshold lower than the default amount.
Can I change my Notification thresholds?
You can still customise your transaction notification preferences via digibank online.
How do I opt into SMS/ Email / Push Notification Alerts?
Your funds transfer transaction notification alerts will be set at $100 by default by end January 2022 . Please be assured that your notification settings will not be changed if you have set a threshold lower than the default amount.
Can I change my Notification thresholds?
You can still customise your transaction notification preferences via digibank online.
How do I opt into SMS/ Email / Push Notification Alerts?
- Simply log in to digibank online complete the authentication process.
- Select the user profile icon (top right) and select Manage Alerts.
- You can choose to update the alerts for your Banking Account(s) or DBS/POSB Card(s)
- Tick your Preferred Notification Mode(s), enter Threshold Limit and click Next.
- Ensure the details are correct and click Submit to complete the application.
Delay of at least 12 hours to activate a new soft token on a mobile device
What is a cooling period?
This is a security control implemented to combat fraud and scams for digital token set up. You will not be able to make certain digibank Online/ digibank Mobile transactions during the cooling period.
Is Digital Token still safe?
Yes, the Digital Token is built with global security standards as part of our multi-layered authentication (e.g. phone lock, banking User ID and PIN) to give you peace of mind.
Can I still use my physical token?
Today, the vast majority of our customers are using digital tokens although customers can request for a physical token on a case-by-case basis.
This is a security control implemented to combat fraud and scams for digital token set up. You will not be able to make certain digibank Online/ digibank Mobile transactions during the cooling period.
Is Digital Token still safe?
Yes, the Digital Token is built with global security standards as part of our multi-layered authentication (e.g. phone lock, banking User ID and PIN) to give you peace of mind.
Can I still use my physical token?
Today, the vast majority of our customers are using digital tokens although customers can request for a physical token on a case-by-case basis.
Dedicated customer assistance teams to deal with fraud cases
Our customers can call our dedicated 24/7 Lost Card & Fraud Reporting hotline at 1800 339 6963 for assistance.
For other queries, please call our general customer service hotline at 1800 111 1111.
Customers who visit the branch for any fraud reporting, will be attended to by a branch manager without needing to queue.
For other queries, please call our general customer service hotline at 1800 111 1111.
Customers who visit the branch for any fraud reporting, will be attended to by a branch manager without needing to queue.
Additional protections involving cooling periods or transaction blocks in higher risk scenarios
As part of our multi-layered defence against fraud, we use secure technology and protocols to ensure our customers’ information and money are safe, whenever they bank online. For example, DBS employs multi-factor authentication whenever customers perform online transactions.
The bank also has a dedicated anti-scam team with round-the-clock response capabilities to carry out intervention work, monitor and review fraud alerts. This includes stationing a full-time employee at the SPF’s anti-scam centre to ensure timely freezing of any accounts.
To safeguard the community against scams, we carry out transaction screening with our monitoring and surveillance systems, which helps us detect unauthorised activities on customer accounts. In addition, we use AI and machine learning that allows us to, for instance, detect distinct changes in user behavioural patterns; cross-reference unusual account changes; as well as instantly screen and block flagged transfers.
Once a customer has informed DBS that he/she has fallen to a scam, the bank will immediately prevent further fund outflows and work with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to attempt to recover the lost funds.
The bank also has a dedicated anti-scam team with round-the-clock response capabilities to carry out intervention work, monitor and review fraud alerts. This includes stationing a full-time employee at the SPF’s anti-scam centre to ensure timely freezing of any accounts.
To safeguard the community against scams, we carry out transaction screening with our monitoring and surveillance systems, which helps us detect unauthorised activities on customer accounts. In addition, we use AI and machine learning that allows us to, for instance, detect distinct changes in user behavioural patterns; cross-reference unusual account changes; as well as instantly screen and block flagged transfers.
Once a customer has informed DBS that he/she has fallen to a scam, the bank will immediately prevent further fund outflows and work with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to attempt to recover the lost funds.
Notification to existing mobile number or email registered with the bank whenever there is a request to change a customer’s mobile number or email address
You will receive an alert based on your current details in our records.
Intensified scam education alerts
How can I check for the latest updates on scams?
We provide weekly updates on our social media accounts. These include the latest security tips and information about new scams.
Our official handles are:
We provide weekly updates on our social media accounts. These include the latest security tips and information about new scams.
Our official handles are:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dbs.sg/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dbsbank
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbsbank
- Telegram: https://telegram.me/dbssg
Frequently Asked Questions
How is DBS protecting me as a customer?
Our customers’ safety when banking online remains our top priority. As part of our multi-layered defence against fraud, we:
However, fraud prevention is a community effort. We encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and help educate their loved ones and friends on scam awareness. We would like to remind our customers to remain vigilant and proactively take precautionary measures to protect their credentials and devices.
- Use secure technology and protocols to ensure our customers’ information and money are safe, whenever they bank online. For example, we employ multi-factor authentication when our customers perform online transactions.
- Have a dedicated anti-scam team with round-the-clock response capabilities, established to carry out intervention work, monitor and review fraud alerts. The team includes a full-time personnel stationed at the Singapore Police Force’s anti-scam centre to ensure timely freezing of any accounts.
- Carry out transaction screening with our advanced monitoring and surveillance systems, which help us to detect unauthorised activities on customer accounts. In addition, we have been using AI and machine learning to safeguard the community against scams. This allows us, for instance, to detect distinct changes in user behavioural patterns; cross-reference unusual account changes; as well as instantly screen and block flagged transfers.
However, fraud prevention is a community effort. We encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and help educate their loved ones and friends on scam awareness. We would like to remind our customers to remain vigilant and proactively take precautionary measures to protect their credentials and devices.
What can I do to protect myself?
It is important that our customers remain vigilant as scammers are quick to adapt in targeting unsuspecting consumers. To avoid falling for online banking scams, customers must:
- Never click on links provided in unsolicited SMSes or emails;
- Verify unsolicited SMSes or emails received by calling the bank directly on the hotline listed on its official website;
- Always check that you are at the bank’s official website before making any transactions, or transact through the bank’s official mobile application;
- Never divulge internet banking credentials or passwords to anyone; and
- Secure your device with a strong password, PIN or a relevant mechanism to prevent unauthorised use.
TIP: A strong password is one that is difficult to guess and contains a mix of letters, numbers or symbols. You can use this on top of your device’s biometric security feature (if available). - Avoid providing your account details (such as passwords and PIN) to third-party financial aggregator applications as these applications may not be secure.
- Avoid registering other people’s biometrics such as facial or fingerprint registration on your devices if you use biometrics to access DBS applications.
- Use a different PIN or password for web-based services such as email, online shopping or subscription services
- Closely monitor transaction notifications so that any unauthorised payments are reported as soon as possible to increase the chances of recovery.
Are my accounts secure?
Please be assured that your deposits and monies are safe and secure.
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