1LINK, a prominent payment gateway system in Pakistan, has issued a public advisory urging citizens to disregard false rumors circulating on social media and WhatsApp.
These rumors falsely claim that ATMs and online banking services in the country are at risk.
In a press release issued on Sunday, 1LINK stated that these claims are baseless and reminiscent of a similar scare during the 2017 “Wannacry Ransomware” cyber attack.
At that time, the attack targeted Microsoft Windows machines, including those used by banks, but the Pakistani banking sector successfully defended against it.
The advisory reassures the public that no current cyber threat has been detected in the ATM and online banking ecosystem.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is actively collaborating with banks and 1LINK to ensure the security of the nation’s financial infrastructure and digital payments ecosystem. This includes strict adherence to IT and security guidelines.
1LINK advises the public to remain vigilant and follow these safety measures:
- Be watchful of your surroundings while using ATMs, visiting bank branches, or banking online, and report any suspicious activities immediately.
- Do not share your payment cards or personal and financial information, such as card numbers, PINs, OTPs, user IDs, and passwords, with anyone.
- Inspect ATMs for any unusual attachments that could be devices designed to copy card data.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information online.
- Always log out of your online banking session after use.
- Regularly review your account statements and promptly notify your bank of any unauthorized transactions or if your card is lost or stolen.
- 1LINK’s advisory aims to maintain public confidence in the security of Pakistan’s financial services and to prevent the spread of misinformation
