Guidance on internet fraud
PHISHING
What is it?
More and more people are making use of internet banking to keep an eye on their finances and move their money. Criminals are now trying to cash in on this by phishing. Phishing is a growing problem and occurs when online fraudsters send authentic looking e-mails to customers inviting them to log on their banks website using the link attached to the e-mail. They are then asked to verify their account details, including their PIN number.
Using the link attached to the e-mail connects the victim to a bogus website. Once the victim has verified their details, the fraudsters can use this information to steal funds from them and carry out identity theft. Identity theft is a proven method of raising funds for organised criminal gangs and terrorists. This is also known as "website spoofing"
How can phishing be recognised?
The majority of phishing attacks are crude and easy to spot with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Fraudsters are, however, becoming more and more sophisticated. In the last year in the UK, they have targeted Halifax, Visa, Lloyds/TSB, NatWest, Barclays and Citibank. The banks have been alerted to the attempts quickly, and the attacks have not, as yet, led to significant personal losses.
We advise people who use internet banking not to reply to any e-mail purportedly sent to them by their bank. Banks never send e-mails to customers asking for confidential or personal information. We also advise you to report any such e-mails to your bank as quickly as possible so that the bank can begin an investigation.
What is it?
More and more people are making use of internet banking to keep an eye on their finances and move their money. Criminals are now trying to cash in on this by phishing. Phishing is a growing problem and occurs when online fraudsters send authentic looking e-mails to customers inviting them to log on their banks website using the link attached to the e-mail. They are then asked to verify their account details, including their PIN number.
Using the link attached to the e-mail connects the victim to a bogus website. Once the victim has verified their details, the fraudsters can use this information to steal funds from them and carry out identity theft. Identity theft is a proven method of raising funds for organised criminal gangs and terrorists. This is also known as "website spoofing"
How can phishing be recognised?
The majority of phishing attacks are crude and easy to spot with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Fraudsters are, however, becoming more and more sophisticated. In the last year in the UK, they have targeted Halifax, Visa, Lloyds/TSB, NatWest, Barclays and Citibank. The banks have been alerted to the attempts quickly, and the attacks have not, as yet, led to significant personal losses.
We advise people who use internet banking not to reply to any e-mail purportedly sent to them by their bank. Banks never send e-mails to customers asking for confidential or personal information. We also advise you to report any such e-mails to your bank as quickly as possible so that the bank can begin an investigation.
If you wish to report internet fraud in Belgium
eCops is an online reporting service to which the Internet user can report crimes committed on or through the Internet.
