New Delhi, 20 October (H.S.): Public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) has cautioned its customers against the growing incidence of cyber fraud involving artificial intelligence (AI), including voice cloning, deepfakes and phishing attempts designed to steal confidential information through fraudulent messages.

In a statement, the bank advised customers to remain vigilant amid the rising number of cyber fraud cases and urged them not to trust messages or phone calls without verifying their authenticity. PNB noted that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting sophisticated technologies to deceive unsuspecting individuals.

In a message to customers, PNB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ashok Chandra said, “Many cyber fraud cases today exploit human behaviour, particularly trust, fear, urgency and everyday digital habits. Fraudsters can even imitate the voices or faces of your family members, friends or other trusted individuals and make false claims about emergencies to pressure you into transferring money immediately.”

He further noted that fraudulent emails, SMS messages and other communications could appear highly personalised and closely resemble genuine messages from banks, making them difficult to identify. Such communications are often designed to trigger panic, prompting customers to act without verifying the information.

Amid the growing number of cybercrime incidents across the country, public and private sector banks are increasing their investments in information technology and cybersecurity. These efforts are aimed at addressing emerging threats posed by advanced AI technologies, risks associated with quantum computing and the stringent regulatory directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

PNB has also reminded customers that October is observed annually as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of staying informed about digital threats and adopting safe online practices.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar