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Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) : SMS Scam Alert

Scammers are already targeting the recently-announced Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) cash assistance from the Malaysian government.

Watch out for FAKE SMS messages that ask for your details to receive your BPN cash assistance!

 

Bantuan Prihatin Nasional : What Is BPN?

The Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) is a one-time cash assistance by the Malaysian government to help citizens take on the COVID-19 crisis.

It gives singles up to RM 800, and families up to RM 1,600 in cash assistance, depending on their circumstances :

Single Income
RM 2,000 or less
Household Income
RM 4,000 or less
Single Income
RM 2,001 to RM 4,000
Household Income
RM 4,001 to RM 8,000
Total BPN
Cash Assistance
RM 800 RM 1,600 RM 500 RM 1,000
Payments April : RM 500
May : RM 300
April : RM 1,000
May : RM 600
April : RM 250
May : RM 250
April : RM 500
May : RM 500
No Application
Required
Preapproved
for BSP
Preapproved
for BSP
Registered
with LHDN
Registered
with LHDN
Payment
Method
Directedly to bank account
registered with BSP
Directedly to bank account
registered with :HDN

 

Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) SMS Scam

Malaysians are, no doubt, eager to get the cash assistance, which is why the website for checking their status was inaccessible for days.

That led the government to change tack – they will inform those who qualify by SMS messages.

However, scammers latched onto that idea, and started sending out these FAKE SMS messages, asking for banking information to send the cash assistance.

Check out these examples, and note how they would ask for your banking login and password!

 

Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) SMS Scam Debunked!

Never Give Anyone Your Login ID Or Password!

First of all, always remember the golden rule of online safety :

NEVER GIVE ANYONE YOUR LOGIN ID / PASSWORD / TAC NUMBER!

No legitimate organisation, not even your bank or the government, will EVER ask you for your login ID or password or TAC number.

If you ever receive a message, even from what appears to be a trustworthy friend or a representative of the government or your bank, asking for any of those information, JUST IGNORE IT.

The Official SMS Is Only A Notification

The Malaysian government will only send an SMS message to those who qualify for Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN).

If you do not meet the requirements, you will never receive such a notification. This is what the official SMS looks like.

It states very clearly that :

You qualify to receive the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN). Payments will be made on April and May 2020. You do not need to check your status or make any applications.

Only Two Valid SMS Numbers

LHDN issued a notification that they will only use two SMS numbers 62000 and 63833 to send you BPN messages.

If you receive BPN-related messages from any other number, please IGNORE THEM.

The Money Goes Directly Into Your Bank Account

If you have already registered your bank account with the Malaysian Income Tax Department (LHDN), or the government’s BSP (Bantuan Sara Hidup) program, the money will go directly into your bank account.

You do not have to contact LHDN or anyone. They will certainly not ask you for your bank login details. Easy peasy!

 

COVID-19 : How To Keep Safe!

Here are a few simple steps to stay safe from COVID-19 :

Recommended : COVID-19 : Hand Sanitiser or Soap? Which Is Better?

 

Recommended Reading

 

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