Page 10 - Hunstanton Town & Around - March 2015

10 Hunstanton Town & Around March 2015 Tel: 01485 533422 email: editor@townandaround.net
Vishing, emails & Wi-Fi of people don’t think twice when your suspicions end the call. Wait 5 times, suggesting that the Bank
they are advised that they should – 10 minutes and then call your would do something they are
Mark Kacary, the Norfolk Deli transfer money from the bank or card issuer to check. unlikely to be able to do without a
When asked if I would write a “compromised’ account into Anatomy of fraudulent email. court order)
monthly article for Town & About another account which the fraudster Here’s an email I received on 20th Sincerely, Barclays Online Bank
it wasn’t my intention to rehash will claim has been specifically Jan. This was sent to me fours times Customer Service
stuff I’d previously written about, opened for the safeguard of the within the space of 30 minutes, a We apologize (the fraudsters
but with a rash of fraudster activity “customer”. In some cases people classic indicator that this was a forgot that they were sending this to
it is important to revisit this. have been fooled into transferring fraudulent email. On reading the UK customers and used a US
One significant difference in this money not once but twice! It does email I found a few more indicators spelling for apologise) for any
instance is that the fraud I am make you think that if you were to prick my suspicions. I have inconvenience this may have
focussing on isn’t that hi-tech. asked to close an account and move highlighted these, which I hope will caused. (at least they apologise)
Some people are being duped out your funds into another account help. You won’t find me using
of their life’s savings as a result of why would you be asked to do this Dear Customer, Free WiFi
nothing more sophisticated than a over two transactions? Protecting the privacy of your How many people knew that for a
telephone call. This form of What if this happens to you? online banking access and personal while Hunstanton had a free to air
fraudulent attack is now known in Don’t expect the Banks to information are our primary Wi-Fi? You won’t find me using it.
the media as Vishing. sympathise. concern. During the last complains Neither will you find me using any
Is it successful? Are people really If it were not bad enough that you (A combination of bad grammar & of the free to air Wi-Fi offerings
fooled? One word YES! Even a might be defrauded in this way, be poor spelling is always a give away) along the high street. There’s a
former NatWest manager with 40 aware that Banks are not because of online fraud we were reason for this of course and that’s
years service was duped. Data from guaranteeing that they will refund forced to upgrade our security because the majority of free public
‘Action Fraud” the crime reporting your losses, and the reason for this? measures. We believe that Invention Wi-Fi’s have next to no security.
service showed that £24m of losses You authorised the transfer after all of security measures is the best way Many may have missed it, but in
were attributed to this type of fraud. which means you will have to jump to beat online fraud. Barclays Bank the Metro on Thursday 22nd
It is minor in comparison to online through hoops to prove the transfer have employed some industrial January it was reported that in an
fraud, but it is up from £7m the year was the result of a deception. leading models to start performing experiment Betsey Davies (aged 7)
before, a three-fold increase! How Looking at it from a banks point of an extra security check with Your hacked into a laptop (following a
does Vishing work? view, if they were to automatically Online Banking Activities to ensure brief lesson by experts) used by a
It’s what is known as ‘social refund everybody who claimed a a safe and secure Online and customer sitting next to her in a
engineering’, using information, defraud, what’s to stop anybody Mobile Banking. (the entire London coffee shop. This was to
which appears to be so believable from transferring money to a paragraph means nothing demonstrate exactly how easy it is
that you act in a way you normally overseas account for example, and whatsoever and is created to make hack into smartphones, tablets and
wouldn’t. A fraudster calls their then saying “it wasn’t me… I was you believe this is something about laptops. By using a few simple
target and proceeds to fool them told to do this” security) techniques the schoolgirl was able
into thinking that they are talking to How do you avoid this Scam? For security reasons we to read her “victim’s” emails,
their bank or the police. To gain Vigilance and unfortunately a downloaded the Update Form to browse their web history and take
your trust, a fraudster will use healthy distrust of people calling security Barclays webserver. (Huh? control of their social media
computer software to manipulate you is the simple answer. More If you can work out what they mean connections.
the number from which they are specifically: here you are better than me ☺) Statistically one in five of us use
calling, so the number you see • Don’t listen to anybody who tells You are requested to follow the public Wi-Fi to do our on-line
displayed on your phone matches you to transfer money from your provided steps and Update Your banking. The idea that hackers are
the number from your bank – this is account. Neither the police nor your Online Banking details, for the hiding in a darkened room
the one that typically appears on the bank will ask you to do this safety of Your Accounts. somewhere many miles away is a
back of your debit card/credit card. • Don’t believe anybody who says - Please download and complete rather antiquated image. The reality
The fraudster will typically have they will call you back from a the form with the requested details: is that they could in fact be sitting
access to details such as the victim’s number that matches your bank’s (I have removed the link they next to you. So will you find me
exact bank balance, the number of customer services department. The provided) using my laptop, tablet or
accounts etc. caller can alter the number shown - Fill in all required fields with smartphone on the free Wi-Fi in any
When a fraudster calls they use on your phone. your accurately details (otherwise of the establishments on the high
the information they have gathered • Don’t assume the caller is genuine will lead to service suspension) street? I’m afraid not. Unless
to create a completely plausible just because they have information Warning: If you choose to ignore establishments take the security of
scenario. By claiming to be either about you, such as your account our request, you leave us no choice their customers seriously and
from your bank or from the police details. but to temporary hold on your implement they type of system I’ve
you are informed that your accounts • If you have a call from the bank’s funds. Thank you for your patience used in Amsterdam. On purchasing
have been compromised. The story fraud office, say you will phone as we work together to protect your a coffee, the receipt includes
concocted is incredibly convincing. back and use the number on the account. Please update your records wireless routers name and a unique
They will confirm how many bank of your bankcard. Use a on or before 48 hours, a failure to “strong” password. Very effective,
accounts you have, who with, what different phone. update your records will result in a inexpensive to implement and most
the account numbers are and how • Never tell anybody what your 4- temporary hold on your funds. importantly it demonstrates that the
much you have in the accounts. digit pin number is. Neither the (apart from poor English, bad business cares about their
They will sucker you into their bank nor the police will ever ask. spelling, if you are going to threaten customers. It’s something many
world, and unfortunately a number Also never write it down anywhere. somebody the authors of this email more businesses in the UK should
• Don’t be so polite. If you have decided to threaten me at least three adopt.