A new online scam is putting Pakistani banking customers at risk. Through advertisements on Facebook, fraudsters are promoting a fictitious version of the mobile app for Habib Bank Limited (HBL). The app is advertised as the “updated 2025 version” of HBL’s official app, but in reality, it is a fake app stealing sensitive banking details.
Facebook has now removed the bogus advertisement. However, the infected link that is associated with it is still in use. This makes it dangerous for anyone who clicks it. Although the URL of the fictitious website is completely distinct from that of HBL, it shares many similarities with the official site. The authentic and safe HBL website is https://www.hbl.com/.
Fake HBL Mobile App Scam Targets Pakistani Users – How to Stay Safe
The phishing site copies HBL’s branding to look real. It even displays pictures of HBL debit and credit cards. Victims are directed to a page where they are required to enter personal information such as:
- Card number
- CVV (security code)
- Expiry date
- Cardholder name
- Mobile number
The website states that “the bank will contact them within one to two hours for OTP verification” after entering these information. The scammers are using this trick to mislead people into thinking the process is genuine.
Speaking about the matter, Ali Habib, spokesperson for HBL, confirmed:
“This is a fake app. We continuously educate our clients to only download the HBL Mobile app from trusted sources such as Google Play or the Apple App Store. At HBL, our clients’ data security remains our primary concern.”
How to Stay Safe
To avoid falling victim to such scams, customers should keep these points in mind:
- Do not download apps from social media links or unknown websites.
- Only use trusted sources:
- Official HBL website: https://www.hbl.com/
- Verified HBL Mobile App on Google Play Store and Apple App Store
- Report suspicious ads, websites, or links to HBL and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
- Never share sensitive information like card numbers or CVV codes on sites that don’t match the official HBL domain.
HBL’s mobile app has not been made available in a separate “2025 version.” Customers should remain vigilant and verify all communications pertaining to banking via official HBL channels.
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