Emirates NBD runs a scam on its own customers but for a good reason

Posted on 2024 Oct,19 | By ArabAd's staff

One in three people struggle to identify fraud, with cybercrime costing the UAE $746 million annually. Emirates NBD recognised the need for a bold approach to educate the public.

Traditional education about rising scams and promoting safe banking practices via the Emirates NBD’s direct mail (EDM) or SMS channels wasn’t enough; therefore, an interactive experience was needed to address overconfidence in scam detection.

Almost Impossible agency in Dubai created an experiential campaign, targeting 220 unsuspecting moviegoers to demonstrate how easily phishing scams can work.

The experiment, dubbed the 'Popcorn Stunt' began with a fake SMS offering free popcorn, leading participants to a fraudulent website, "Vux Cinemas" (instead of Vox Cinemas, The Middle East's most innovative venue for movie-goers), where they were prompted to enter personal details.

After submitting, a command terminal appeared, stating, "You’ve been hacked." Moments later, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) reassured the audience: “Not really, but it could have been,” followed by a message from a chatbot reminding everyone to remain vigilant and cautious of suspicious links: “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

This campaign, which is part of the #UnitedAgainstFraud campaign, revealed society’s vulnerability to digital scams, demonstrating how easily individuals can fall prey despite believing themselves insulated from fraud.

As the first bank to run a scam on its own customers, Emirates NBD took an innovative approach to educating the public, showing its commitment to digital security and proactive customer protection.

The stunt left a lasting impact, driving home the importance of constant vigilance in an increasingly digital world.