BCRA Steps Up Warnings on Digital Fraud

The Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina has publicly warned about online scams that drain bank accounts, and stressed that users should never provide personal data or passwords by phone, email or social media, or respond to security requests outside their financial institution’s official channels.

How to respond to a fraud case

According to the guidance issued by the agency, the first step is to contact the bank or card issuer. During that initial contact, the customer can request protective measures such as blocking account access, suspending or canceling cards, or locking the user account in apps and digital wallets. The goal is also to create a formal record of the complaint.

If the response is not satisfactory or the problem continues, the case can be escalated to the Central Bank through a specific web form for fraud or scam complaints. The BCRA also asked victims to file the relevant police or court report before making that submission.

Documentation required

To file a complaint with the Central Bank, the affected person needs the complaint number assigned by the financial institution, a copy of the initial complaint and any response, images of their national ID, and a detailed description of the transactions considered fraudulent. That description should include dates, amounts, channels and the type of transaction.

The agency also said the online filing with the BCRA must begin at least ten business days after the initial complaint, and only with complete supporting documentation.

The Central Bank’s warning comes amid a regional environment in which financial security frameworks are starting to demand greater traceability for what banks and fintech companies do, both in incident response and in their ability to show controls against digital fraud and possible new regulatory obligations.