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Warning: Fraudulent Email pretending to be from a recognised bank

by Nick Lotter
10 replies
Hi all,

I have just received an email which is a scam and an attempt to steal money straight out of your bank account.

The sender sends you an email that looks like it comes from Standard Bank (or any other recognised banking institution) and the subject line is Important Security Alert. I checked the sender’s details and the email actually came from info@hiisports, NOT from Standard Bank.

This is what it says:


Dear Customer,


We have noticed that someone other than you logged into your account on the 27th of July 2010 at 11:11 PM, due to this, we have deactivated your account for safety reasons. We suspect this was done by the new fraud scheme, they use the traditional method of identity theft (phishing), hacking into customers online banking.
You can also visit your nearest branch or restore your account here
Please Click Below and follow the steps.



Click here
I hovered my mouse over the link provided (where it says “click here”) to see what the link is directed to and the link does NOT go to Standard Bank – it goes to a phishing (identity theft) website.

What typically happens is that by clicking the link you will be redirected to a website which may well even look like a Standard Bank website with the correct branding etc, and you will be prompted to enter your account number, user name, and password to “log in” or verify your account.

DO NOT ENTER YOUR DETAILS

The site will store your information, and it will be used to log into your account and draw out as much money as they feel inclined to take from you.

Always double check any email which claims to come from a bank or financial institution.
#bank #email #fraudulent #pretending #recognised #warning
  • Profile picture of the author jdhflip
    Thanks for the heads up!
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Ayres
    why even bother posting these here, i get them on a daily basis, and if people on here click on the links then they shouldnt be in IM anyway.

    It just wastes bandwidth on the forum
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    • Profile picture of the author Nick Lotter
      Originally Posted by SpudDS View Post

      why even bother posting these here, i get them on a daily basis, and if people on here click on the links then they shouldnt be in IM anyway.

      It just wastes bandwidth on the forum
      With respect, you may know about every scam in existence, but others may not - particularly newbies. I figured if just 1 person read this and subsequently was saved from becoming a victim, then mission accomplished.

      I personally haven't seen many scam alert threads posted in the forum so in my view one every now and then doesn't hurt.

      Anyway, my apologies if I was wrong and if let the moderators delete/move the thread if its appropriate to do so.
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      "Do not wait to strike until the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking."
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  • Profile picture of the author Jagged
    Spuds,
    because you get them on a daily basis dosn't mean others are too...there is such a huge influx of new people looking to make money online that there will always be some who will benefit from info like this....

    Respectfully,
    ~Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Ayres
    But if someone posts one of these everytime they recieve one the forum will be flooded with these types of posts.

    I really dont see that an IM forum is a place for these and if people insist on posting them then they should be in the Off Topic section at least.
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    • Profile picture of the author Doolder
      Actually I can't believe some people still do fall for these lame tricks. You can smell the scam from 1000 miles away.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      We've all gotten these - and they are from "banks" we never heard of.

      Question: If you have an email warning about a bank account in a bank you KNOW you don't use - why would you click on anything?

      Answer: Because people think maybe they might have money somewhere they didn't know about. That's right up there with the tooth fairy.

      The solution is the same as it is from this type email that you receive daily from "paypal" or other "institution that handles money". Never click on one of the links.

      No exceptions, no excuses, just don't click a link if you don't know where it came from. They can't scam you if you don't fall for it.

      kay
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  • Profile picture of the author dave147
    These fraudulent emails are relentless and some people may have trouble recognizing them as fakes so it's no harm in hearing about the latest attempt. If it saves only one person making a mistake then I think it's worth a post.
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    • Profile picture of the author niffybranco
      The internet has been around long enough for anyone to know you do not click links to financial institutions or anything sensitive from an email you got out of the blues. Its like hanging a wad of cash round your neck and complaining that someone tried to rob you.

      With all the horror stories in the media anyone who wants to get online should read up on how to be safe online.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimGross
      Most financial institutions I've seen contribute to this problem by encouraging users to click on links in the real emails they send out. Once customers are used to clicking on links in emails, they're primed to click on a scam email.

      Only one of my banking institutions says something like, "We will never send you an email with a clickable link to our website. If you ever receive an email that looks like it's from us but there's a link in it, do not click on it. Always open your web browser and type in our URL by hand."

      Considering how serious the consequences are, it's shocking to me that most banks still encourage their customers to click on links within their emails.
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