Phishing Scam Victimizes Axis Bank Accountholder

The Indian subcontinent's Mumbai Cyber Crime Police reveals that most of the current online scams related to phishing in the country are associated with Axis Bank.

In an incident of phishing attacks, a hardware business owner 'Lokaprakash' in Mattikere (Bangalore, India) got a message from Axis Bank that asked for his account information for allegedly improving the services.

Lokaprakash, who became convinced of the fraudulent e-mail, gave his information, including Personal Identity Number (PIN), to phishers.

Then, according to him, after two days, he got a phone call from Axis Bank enquiring if he had received an e-mail from the institution to which Lokaprakash informed in the positive and said that he forwarded all the information that were asked for. But Lokaprakash says that he was shocked when the caller said that the e-mail was a hoax, as its sender had made a withdrawal of Rs.16,000 from his bank account, as reported by Mid-Day on June 30, 2009.

According to Lokaprakash, on checking his account at the bank, he discovered that the money transfer was made to one Abasaheb Arjun Pagre's account existed with the Mumbai Axis Bank.

It is not only Lokaprakash whom phishers spoofed for, another customer of Axis, who was also targeted, reported the number of the fraudulent electronic mails he got from Axis during June, 2009.

This customer states that on an average, he got two phishing e-mails daily between June 10 and June 21, 2009, and then one e-mail/day during June 22-28, 2009.

Meanwhile, Axis Bank has posted a note formally on its website saying that the institution never requests for customers' private security details such as phone or online banking passwords over phone, e-mail or any other means.

Therefore, the Bank suggests that accountholders should not reveal their account details to anyone, even if that person is the Bank's employee via such modes of communication. Any customer receiving a phone call or e-mail soliciting personal security information should inform Axis about the incident or forward the electronic mail to ibrm@axisbank.com.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 7/14/2009