Digital financial institution CIMB Bank Philippines has warned of a rise in highly sophisticated online scams, as fraudsters deploy increasingly polished and targeted schemes tied to seasonal travel and loyalty rewards.
The lender said the threats reflect the continued evolution of digital fraud designed to create a false sense of security while pressuring consumers into transferring funds or disclosing sensitive information.
“Online scams continue to evolve, and today’s schemes are becoming more polished, targeted, and difficult to spot,” CIMB Bank Philippines said in an advisory, urging customers to pause before responding to urgent or too-good-to-be-true offers.
The bank flagged the “points expiration” scam as one of the most common tactics, where victims receive SMS or email alerts claiming their rewards points or loyalty credits will expire within the day, prompting them to click malicious links.
CIMB cited data from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), warning that interacting with such links “may allow scammers to steal your personal information or install harmful software on your phone.”
It advised customers to avoid clicking texted links and instead verify account status directly through official banking applications.
“Protecting your money starts with protecting your personal information,” CIMB Bank Philippines said, advising users to keep mobile apps updated and avoid responding to unverified payment requests.
