It has been reported that hackers seized the GTBank website and intercepted customers’ data in a massive phishing operation. No collective of hackers have been identified or have claimed responsibility for such destructive acts, which reports have that it was started on August 14. However, news regarding these claims has not been verified by any legitimate source or any GTBank employer.
GTBank Website Hacked, Customers’ Data Intercepted: What We Know So Far
Some suspected cybercriminals were known to have tempered with the domain address of leading Nigerian bank, Guarantee Trust Bank. As reported by some users of the bank, reports showed that on Wednesday night, the bank’s main website was not accessible to the general public. A day after the domain name was renewed for another five years, from August 13, 2024, through March 21, 2029, this incident occurred as per multiple online platforms that analyze domain information.
A GTBank rep failed to answer comments after being asked questions, which gave the public hints that there is something going on. No group of hackers has come out to tell the public they are behind the attacks. The attackers appeared to have created another HTTP layer of the website in a plot to steal customers’ data through phishing.
About two hours ago, a check from Twitter showed Someone in the US has paid for @gtbank domain. The image below shows proof.
Some clients of the bank started experiencing glitches on 13th August, 2024. An X user posted this “Gtbank App since morning… It’s not working. It keep saying No internet connection. Whereas other Bank app are connecting. Please attend to this as I have an urgent transaction”
Another user said, “Is anyone finding it difficult to log into your @gtbank mobile app? Is there an issue?
Other more worrying was the comment on x as of 13th August are shared below.
“I’m starting to think this GTBank @gtbank_help app wakes up at 9am because what in the name of frustration is this!”
“@gtbank are you sure you guys are okay? Your app hasn’t opened all day. Is everything alright? Y’all are getting worse by day. Starting a match-counting company is probably worth considering at this point.”
All the above comments and reactions to the malfunctioning of the GT Bank mobile apps are a few of the warning signs and leads that the GTBank website was hacked, but the bank probably failed to see the red flags.
A cybersecurity expert who is known to have experience in the banking industry of Nigeria said it was possible that the bank’s login details were compromised instead of the domain address itself being stolen to be sold again at a more lucrative deal online. GTBank in particular has had a problem with hackers over the past period of time. The bank has had to deal with similar problems of hackers and workers turning hackers in the past. All these leave customers in a spot where they think about the safety of their money and ask if their money is even secured in their accounts.
Some GTBank’s customers have already started showing their frustration about the incident, many commenting on social media platform X that they couldn’t open the website to conduct transactions. Some of the bank’s representatives on X urged customers to be patient and send their requests to a designated line of support.
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The bank’s mobile infrastructure did not appear to have been affected, as Android and iOS-based applications were still in operation as of the time of this report.
In recent times, banks in Ghana have been under severe attacks from hackers. Customers of various banks have also beefed up their education on how they can secure and protect their records with the banks.
Safety measures suggested to customers have been included.
- Not sharing their log-in details and pins with anyone.
- Not using simple-to-guess passwords for their mobile apps connected to bank accounts
At the time of this publication, GTBank had yet to officially react to their website being hacked and messages making the rounds on social media.