MUSCAT: Did you receive an SMS stating that an amount in your bank account is on hold due to a suspicious transaction and then asking you to click a link to cancel it to release the amount? Don’t panic, such messages are fake and sent by scammers targeting bank customers, Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has warned.

TRA has raised concerns about the rise in scam text messages targeting bank customers in the country. “These messages often look convincing, using fake links that lead to websites designed to look like official banking portals,” TRA noted.

“Once users enter their bank card details on these fake sites, scammers use the information to take money from their accounts,” TRA said. 

“To protect yourself, we advise everyone to be cautious. Do not click on links in suspicious messages or share your bank details. If you receive a message like this, contact your bank immediately to check if it’s real. Always double-check messages from banks and use official bank contact numbers for verification,” TRA added.