Commonwealth Bank Customers Warned against an E-mail Scam

Australian bank customers receive hundreds of e-mail everyday, pretending to have arrived from the Commonwealth Bank but investigators suspect that they are a part of a global scam to steal money from customers' accounts.

The residents of Toowoomba (Australia) have been warned about an e-mail scam. The e-mail claims to have come from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and informs customers about a new service announcement related to NetBank account.

The e-mail says that customers can get more information of the new service announcement at the Bank's website and alerts that the message will be taken off from the website today (the day when a user receives the e-mail).

Besides, several customers of Commonwealth Bank of Australia from other regions have complained of receiving different types of e-mails designed to steal their personal data and money from their accounts. In fact, many customers were forced to change their passwords as a precautionary measure. The e-mails contain the bank logo that makes them more authentic.

The e-mail scam includes a number of lucrative schemes for people, such as win prizes and money, unlock frozen accounts, qualify for fee refunds, activate cards, update account details and participate in survey, to entice people to read the message.

Steve Batten, Media Manager of Commonwealth Bank, said that the bank had no connection with the e-mail and the authorities were aware of it, as reported by thechronicle on May 1, 2009.

The bank has warned its customers that if they receive any of such e-mails, they should not click on any of embedded links in the message. Moreover, users should avoid sharing their personal information with an unknown person. In case, any customer has already revealed his private information after reading the e-mail, he should immediately contact his financial institution.

According to security experts, the volume and frequency of phishing attacks have been rapidly increasing worldwide for last few years. In a similar news, HSBC Middle East issued a warning against phishing e-mail in early May 2009 after many of its customers complained of getting e-mails purporting from the bank and asking for their account details.

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» SPAMfighter News - 5/28/2009