Banks are warning their customers about scam messages that promote fake job offers in return for large sums of money, designed to lure victims and seize their funds, amid a rise in online fraud attempts.

The scam usually starts with a request to transfer small amounts on the pretext of starting the job. The financial demands then escalate until the victim has lost large sums, so it pays to be careful and verify that a job offer is genuine before engaging with it.

With scammers using an ever-wider range of methods to target customers, banks are working to raise awareness of the risks of financial and online fraud. They stress the importance of verifying financial and job offers and of taking the necessary steps to protect money and banking data.