Government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) said it did not suffer a cybersecurity breach and that the reported hacking of teachers’ payrolls with the bank is not accurate information, that it was a device-related phishing incident rather than a hacking issue.

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Landbank in a statement Monday, Jan. 24, clarified that its systems were not hacked and remain secure, following reports that alleged unauthorized transactions were experienced by two teachers who maintain payroll accounts with the state-controlled bank.

But Landbank said that its initial investigation showed it was the affected teachers devices that were hacked via phishing “which compromised their personal information.”

“The bank has already reached out to the affected customers and is working on the resolution of these isolated cases at the soonest possible time,” it said.

Landbank, the country’s second largest bank with total assets of P2.56 trillion, also assured its clients that “their accounts and personal information remain safe” as it has the “highest level of security in all its systems.”

“The bank also advises the public to remain vigilant against phishing scams and all other forms of online banking fraud,” said Landbank. It likewise “reminds its customers to refrain from opening suspicious emails, links and attachments, and sharing your account and personal information.”

“Official (bank) representatives will never ask for the critical financial information of customers,” it added.

The bank is asking its customers with potentially affected accounts to report fraudulent activities to its Customer Care Hotline through (02) 8-405-7000 or 1-800-10-405-7000, or via email at [email protected].