National Bank of Georgia Warns of Fraudsters Who Use Its Name on WhatsApp to Push People Into Loans

The National Bank of Georgia warned on 22 October 2026 about fraudsters who contact people through WhatsApp and other channels. They call themselves National Bank staff, use its official logo without permission and offer help with loans and other financial transactions.

How the scheme works

The National Bank described one such case. A person was told that a loan had already been approved in their name and was asked to sign an agreement. When the person replied that they had never applied, the fraudsters introduced themselves as National Bank employees, talked them into taking the loan and had part of the money sent to a third party's account.

The regulator calls this method social engineering. Fraudsters either try to get direct access to a person's account or persuade the customer to make the transaction on their own.

What the National Bank does not do

The National Bank is the central bank of the country. It does not issue loans, does not accept deposits and does not help people get products from commercial banks. A message in its name with a loan offer is therefore a sign of fraud.

What to do

The National Bank gives the following advice:

• do not share personal or financial data, including the username and password for online banking;
• do not enter such data through links sent by people you do not know;
• do not make bank or card transactions at the request of strangers;
• check any offer with your own bank before you use a product or send money.

If you have a personal bank account in Georgia, check an unexpected call or message about a loan through your bank's official app or hotline, not through the contacts the caller gave you. If you suspect fraud, the National Bank advises contacting law enforcement, and the police answer on 112.

Other common tricks that newcomers run into are described in the overview of safety in Georgia.