Residents get in-app bank alerts as new rule goes into effect

As UAE banks are switching from onetime passwords (OTPs) to in-app authentication, residents say the shift is a positive change that prioritises security over convenience, especially for those who have fallen victim to OTP-related scams.

- Hind Aldah

According to banks, in-app authentication enhances protection.

(FILE PHOTO)

Several banks across the UAE are now using in-app approvals for online payments and card transactions, replacing traditional SMS-based OTPs. The move comes amid growing concerns about phishing and social engineering scams that exploit OTPs to authorise fraudulent payments.

As Khaleej Times reported earlier, OTPs are considered less secure and more vulnerable to modern hacking techniques, making in-app authentication a safer alternative. However, while banks say the change enhances protection, residents say it also changes how smoothly transactions are completed.

Cosmina Condrat, a kitchen appliance advisor, said she prefers the new system after being scammed through OTP-based authentication. She recalled attempting to make what appeared to be a small payment, only to later discover multiple large transactions had gone through.