ProCredit Bank joins the #ShahraiGoodbye Payment Security Campaign led by the National Bank, Cyber Police and State Special Communications Service

Starting from 13 May 2025, the National Bank of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Cyber Police Department of the National Police and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, has launched the next wave of the nationwide #ShahraiGoodbye information campaign on payment security.

The campaign aims to raise public awareness and remind citizens of the key rules for safe cashless payments, especially online.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, cyber fraud and cybercrime incidents have significantly increased. The total losses from unlawful actions and fraudulent operations involving payment cards rose by more than one-third in 2024 compared to 2023 — a 37% increase, reaching UAH 1.1 billion.

The most common cause of payment card fraud in Ukraine, just as globally, remains social engineering — when users are tricked into voluntarily disclosing personal data, card details, online banking login credentials, confirmation codes, and passwords for banking apps or transactions.

Therefore, improving citizens'' knowledge and digital literacy in using payment cards and internet banking is crucial to help them act more cautiously and avoid traps and scams in the digital environment.

“Financial institutions continuously strengthen security measures to protect clients’ funds. However, fraudsters are increasingly relying on social engineering to deceive users into revealing sensitive information. According to payment service providers, 84% of all losses are due to this very factor. These cases could have been avoided if people were more familiar with the basic rules of payment security. That’s why we’re launching a new wave of the #ShahraiGoodbye campaign — to spread knowledge and prevent fraud,” said Oleksii Shaban, deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.

“Every scam begins with trust — this is exactly what fraudsters exploit, persuading people to speak, click or install. Their main weapon isn''t complex technology, but human carelessness, emotional appeals and a lack of digital safety knowledge. Our goal is not only to investigate cybercrime but also to prevent it. The #ShahraiGoodbye campaign — a joint initiative of the NBU, Cyber Police, and State Service of Special Communications — will help every Ukrainian learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones from financial traps,” said Yurii Vykhodets, Head of the Cyber Police Department.

“There’s a saying: prevention is better than a cure. This applies equally to the online world. It’s better to learn safe online behaviour in advance than to suffer losses due to negligence or lack of awareness. The #ShahraiGoodbye campaign is a vital educational initiative that will improve cyber hygiene and raise awareness about payment security,” said Oleksandr Potii, Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.

“Some of the most common fraud schemes include fake calls from individuals posing as bank employees, deceptive messages about blocked cards, and urgent requests to transfer money ‘for account protection’. These types of scams pose daily risks to the financial security of Ukrainians. ProCredit Bank is committed to supporting initiatives that protect financial service users and raise awareness about cyber threats. Cybersecurity remains a top priority for the entire banking sector. Our involvement in the #ShahraiGoodbye campaign underscores our dedication to promoting payment security and improving financial literacy. Transparency and responsibility from both institutions and consumers are fundamental pillars of a strong and reliable banking system,” emphasised Oleksandr Povshednyi, Chairman of the Management Board at ProCredit Bank.

Key focus areas of the #ShahraiGoodbye campaign:

Together with over 80 partners, the National Bank of Ukraine will educate consumers on essential payment security practices, such as:

• How to verify websites and chatbots before entering payment data

• How to shop safely online

• How to protect your financial phone number

• How to avoid common scam schemes

• How to not become an unwitting accomplice while job hunting

• How to secure your online accounts

• How to create strong and unique passwords

• How to enable multi-factor authentication

Campaign activities

The campaign will run until the end of 2025 in all regions of Ukraine and will include:

• Billboards, public transport ads, and posters at stops

• Video broadcasts in government service centres (CNAPs), shopping malls, gas stations, banks, metro, train stations, Intercity trains

• Posters and brochures in employment centres, legal aid offices, and police departments

• Publications in social media, media outlets, Telegram channels, and partner websites

• Radio interviews and television segments

• A newspaper on payment safety for senior citizens, distributed via Pension Fund service centres

• Webinars, contests, and educational events for youth and educators

• SMS and email newsletters

• Educational video/audio clips on TV and radio

All helpful information will also be available on the official campaign webpage.

General partners:

Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Free Legal Aid System, State Employment Center, Prostir, Kyivstar, Lifecell, Raiffeisen Bank, Ukreximbank, PrivatBank, MEGOGO Education, ESET, Army FM, OpenDataBot, YASNO, and others.

Information partners:

Oschadbank, Ukrgasbank, PUMB, Ukrsibbank, Universal Bank, SENS Bank, Credit Agricole Bank, OTP Bank, Kredobank, ProCredit Bank, A-Bank, Bank Vostok, Credit Dnipro Bank, MTB Bank, Accordbank, Globus Bank, Idea Bank, Radabank, Piraeus Bank, ComInBank, Clearing House Bank, Agroprosperis Bank, Investment and Savings Bank, Asvio Bank, Industrialbank, Sky Bank, RwS bank, Grant Bank, Kreditvest Bank, Crystalbank, European Industrial Bank, Ukrainian Capital Bank, Polikombank, Motor-Bank, Familny Bank, Ukrainian Reconstruction and Development Bank, Trust-Capital Bank, First Investment Bank, BTA Bank, NABU, Mastercard, Portmone, NovaPay, EasyPay, Foxtrot, BlaBlaCar, WOG, SOCAR, Amic Energy, Ukrainian Youth Center, NGO “IT-Grandmas”, city24, TENET, and major shopping malls across Ukraine.