Certain information of 1,166 of UOB’s customers has been disclosed as a result of an impersonation scam.
All 1,166 customers are China nationals.
The information disclosed comprised the customers’ names, identification, mobile numbers and account balances.
Their bank account numbers were not disclosed.
UOB says its IT systems remain secure.
According to initial findings, a UOB employee had allegedly fallen prey to a China police impersonation scam and had been deceived into disclosing the information of these China nationals with Singapore-based accounts.
UOB says it is working closely with the Singapore Police Force.
It adds that it has written to the customers affected and have taken precautionary measures to protect them.
The measures include disabling their internet and mobile banking access, stepping up account monitoring of affected accounts, and setting an SMS alert threshold of $1 for any online fund transfers.
“We apologise to our customers that this has happened as we have always made it a priority to keep their data secure,” says the bank in a May 7 statement.
The employee involved in the matter has been suspended and is assisting the police with investigations.
Shares in UOB closed 55 cents higher or 2.1% up at $26.58 on May 7.
See also: UOB reports 46% q-o-q growth in net profit to $1 bil for 1Q21 on record fee income and Analysts positive on UOB's 1Q21 results, Maybank Kim Eng and RHB upgrade to 'buy'
