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Johannesburg - Internet banking fraudsters have a new ploy that could catch bank clients off-guard.
Absa clients have been receiving e-mails requesting them to provide their banking details. A previous ploy was to request clients to provide information to protect them from internet scams.
The new scam says that Absa is "happy" to announce that all online banking services have been "successfully upgraded" in 2008 in order to provide a "safer" service to "valued" clients.
The catch is that clients are asked to verify their complete banking details in order to use the new and safer service.
According to the message it is essential for all clients to undergo the verification process as their accounts will be closed if they do not comply.
The message uses the well-known Absa logo and looks realistic.
An Absa spokesperson has emphasised that the bank never issues clients requests via e-mail especially not for banking details to be provided or updated.
Despite repeated warnings by the bank there are still clients who are not cautious when it comes to banking. Online scams known as "phishing" happen when fraudsters gain access to a bank account when the "Update Online Banking" facility is used.
According to the spokesperson the new ploy surfaced recently. Comprehensive warnings not to respond to the e-mail do appear on the Absa website.
Even though the Absa website looks official, clients are able to notice that it's a scam because the website looks different when you click on "Update Online Banking" icon.
Be very wary of a website address that is long and contains the @ sign.
Absa acknowledges that the fake messages can look very authentic. This includes the methods that are used to verify transactions, as well as information about the group's privacy policy that corresponds with the necessary requirements for internet banking. Clients can thus easily be fooled into thinking that the scam is legitimate.
Absa requests that clients change their log-on details, such as their PIN (personal identification number) and password as soon as they receive a suspicious message. For more information contact Absa's toll-free service at 08600 08600.
Accounts need to be constantly monitored in order to spot suspicious events.
- Sake