EDP and SIBS fight fraud with new partnership to protect consumers
EDP and SIBS have established a strategic partnership to strengthen the fight against fraud and promote a greater sense of security among consumers, which has already blocked more than 250 fraudulent references since February this year, avoiding losses to customers in the order of 65,000 euros.
The partnership consists of the creation of a direct channel between EDP and SIBS, leading to the latter being able to cancel the fraudulent payment references that were reported by consumers to EDP. As a result and in just the first three months, SIBS and EDP confirmed and blocked 100% of the reported cases with evidence, preventing these fraudulent actions from affecting more people.
By contacting EDP, via telephone and website, consumers can report cases of potential fraud. After submitting the complaints and upon presentation of evidence - such as images of fraudulent messages or emails - EDP shares the information with SIBS, which proceeds to block the reported references.
"This collaboration reflects our commitment to the safety and well-being of consumers, while reinforcing the importance of cooperation with non-financial entities in the prevention of digital fraud", highlights Miguel Silva, Director of Anti-Fraud at the SIBS Group. "The collaboration with EDP complements the prevention mechanisms that SIBS already has in place for fraud of this nature. It has allowed us to act quickly and effectively in blocking fraudulent references, avoiding significant losses for consumers and is an example of how cooperation between entities helps to protect the payment ecosystem in Portugal".
"In recent years, EDP has reinforced its strategy to combat fraud, with constant communication with its customers, namely by periodically sending security messages to the most vulnerable groups and by preparing the company's channels (contact centre, stores, etc.) to quickly help any consumer who may be the target of increasingly sophisticated fraud. It is important to note that direct debit is a secure, automatic and effective form of payment, which significantly reduces the risk of scams and offers greater peace of mind to everyone involved. The partnership with SIBS represents another important step in this strategy and reinforces EDP's goal of being the trusted energy partner of its customers." said Hugo Gouveia, director of EDP Comercial.
EDP and SIBS also intend to warn of the importance of consumers being aware of possible scam attempts, such as messages or emails that request personal data or payments through suspicious links. To report a fraud attempt, consumers can access EDP's official channels, through the dedicated telephone line (21 353 53 53) or the EDP website, where the EDP Verifier is also available, which allows a consumer to quickly enter the data they have received and confirm whether they are legitimate or attempts at fraud.