Bank Account Frauds, Beware Of Phishing Emails
Monday, February 18th, 2008Bank Account Frauds, Beware Of Identity Theft
Bank frauds are today being perpetuated by the popular method of phishihg. Simply put, phishing is the process where the fraudster tries to extract confidential information through convincing (fraudulent) emails. When such a fraudster tries to defraud your bank account, he does not really know whether you have a bank account with the concerned bank. Emails are sent to a very large number of innocent victims, the fraudster hopes that some of these will reach actual holders of bank accounts with the particular bank.
The email basically informs you that there is some update to be done to your bank account information. This is the beginning of an attempt to perform a bank fraud. It is quite likely that you do not even have an account with that particular bank, in which case you simply ignore the email. However, if you had an account with that bank, your impulsive action would be to act as per the email. The email would inform you that your bank account would be suspended if the suggested action was not taken. A link on the email urges you to login and make the necessary update to your bank account.
Once you click the link, you are taken to your bank account login page which looks very similar to the bank account page that you normally use to log in. This is the dangerous part of the email, the page is infact not an authentic login page for your bank account. It is clone page that is hosted by the fraudster on some other website and some other server. When you enter your login name and password to access your bank account, the clone web page transmits this information to the fraudster.
The fraudster is immediately informed through a triggered email that, a victim has fallen prey. He would then enter the actual bank account website and login with your details. The funds in your account will then be syphoned out of your bank account. Depending on the amount that is available, the damage to your financial position can be paralysing.
Advice: If you every receive such an email from any source, do not click on any link on the email. Remember this, no matter how authentic the email appears to be. If you must access your bank account, open a fresh browser page, type the entire name of the website for your bank and then do the login. If there was something genuinely wrong with your bank account, any reputed bank would place that issue right on the first page after you login successfully. If this is not present, call your bank and discuss the problem. Do not refer to any phone numbers mentioned on the suspected email.
If you by any chance fall for this prey, contact your bank as soon as possible and inform them of the problem. Access your bank website by typing in the full name of the bank website and change the password to your account.
This information is provided in the public interest by http://www.kaisilver.com the world’s largest online provider of high end custom jewelry. Please pass the information to your friends and relatives, it is our duty to ensure that fraudsters do not make Internet commerce unsafe for any one.