The Shift Away from SMS: Embracing Safer Alternatives for Card and Biz Notifications

The Shift Away from SMS: Embracing Safer Alternatives for Card and Biz Notifications

In recent years, SMS has become a common tool for scammers to carry out phishing attacks, especially in the Philippines, leading to a surge in SMS-related fraud, particularly in banking transactions. Phishing scams often involve fraudulent messages mimicking legitimate institutions, tricking individuals into providing sensitive information like passwords or account numbers. As these threats continue to evolve, so does the need for a safer, more secure way of receiving important banking alerts.

Why We’re Moving Away from SMS

For many years, SMS alerts have been the primary means of notifying you of your debit/credit card and ATM transactions. However, as phishing scams via SMS (often referred to as "smishing") grow more sophisticated, banks and financial institutions must enhance security measures to protect their customers. SMS technology lacks advanced encryption, making it easier for fraudsters to spoof messages and deceive unsuspecting users.

To address these vulnerabilities, we are progressively moving away from SMS alerts to more secure alternatives such as email and push notifications. This shift ensures that you continue to receive timely updates while safeguarding your personal and financial information.

Transitioning to Email and Push Notifications

Email and push notifications via your digibank app offer an added layer of security compared to SMS. 

Here’s why:

1. Authentication and Encryption: Push notifications sent through mobile banking apps are delivered through secure channels, ensuring the authenticity of the message. Unlike SMS, which can be intercepted, these notifications are encrypted and directly tied to your banking profile.

2. Real-Time Alerts: Just like SMS, push notifications provide instant alerts for your transactions. However, they are safer because they are linked to your secure banking app, requiring proper authentication.

3. Enhanced Control: With push notifications and email alerts, you can tailor the types of notifications you receive and manage them directly within your app settings. Whether you prefer alerts for every transaction or just high-value purchases, you have full control over your preferences.

4. Fraud Detection and Prevention: Since push notifications are linked to your banking app, any suspicious or unauthorized access will trigger an immediate alert, prompting you to secure your account quickly.

What You Need to Do

The transition to email and push notifications is seamless, but there are a few steps you can take to ensure you’re fully prepared:

Update Your Contact Information: Make sure your email address is up to date in your banking profile to ensure you receive all important alerts.

Enable Push Notifications: If you haven’t already, enable push notifications within your digibank app. This will allow you to receive real-time alerts on your mobile device.

Stay Vigilant: While email and push notifications provide enhanced security, always be cautious of any unusual activity in your account. Regularly monitor your transaction history and report any suspicious activity to your bank immediately.

Looking Ahead: A Safer Way to Bank

By moving away from SMS, we are committed to providing you with a more secure and seamless banking experience. Email and push notifications not only enhance security but also keep you informed of your transactions in real-time, all within a trusted, encrypted environment.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and enhance your banking security.