Never Disclose Your Bank Account Details
With the onset of the information technology, banking has been made convenient by accessing your bank accounts using the internet. However, online banking has its share of inconveniences and dangers as scams and frauds are also rampant. Banks need to be extra vigilant to protect its customers from internet fraud or online scams.
Just recently, a Russian website has recently deceived at least fifty persons into providing their accounts passwords as well as their PINs of their Westpac bank accounts.
Upon investigation, Westpac suspected that the said website is operated by a crime group based on Moscow. They sent thousands of fake e-mails, pretending to be from Westpac by wearing the bank’s symbols. They asked various account holders to click on a link that requires them to provide details purportedly for a “quick identity check”.
Due to Westpac’s policing and monitoring system the bogus was readily detected, preventing the online theft from victimizing a lot of account holders. The internet security team of Westpac is now working on closing down the said fake website with the aid of the Australian Federal Police. The police use their own hi-tech crime unit to make sure that the website is deleted from the internet by international authorities.
The domain name of the said website was traced to be registered via a Moscow business that is well known by various Australian banks as well as the international law enforcement.
The web domain, https://akamai.net, which is known to Russian internet authorities, is the source of all the e-mails. This was discovered upon identification of the customers who clicked on the web link. Westpac accomplished this by using a superior tracking software program.
However, it still cannot be ascertained if the computers of these people were also hacked. As of now, the bank has already contacted those persons who disclosed their passwords and account numbers. Westpac has not disclosed if money were actually stolen. Nonetheless, the bank was quick to say that they are willing to recompense in full any amount that was stolen. They also admit that it is not really the account holders fault, thinking that they truly believe the said e-mail was from Westpac.
For persons who are doing most of their bank transactions online, be very wary when you are being asked of your password because not legitimate bank will do so. If you have been victimized by the same online scam or any kind of fraud, visit the AFP’s service at scamwatch.gov.au for guidance.
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