South Africa - Phishing Scams on a Rise

Online scams mainly phishing scams targeting the financial sector are increasing in South Africa where online banking is commonly used by people.

Absa bank is one of the latest banks in South Africa targeted by a phishing e-mail scam in Q2 2009.

It is known that the unsolicited phishing mail that hit customers of Absa bank said its recipients that the Bank is contacting them in connection of their online banking Ownership Authentication Guide for their security.

The phishing e-mail also states that the Security Team of the Bank have noticed several logons in the online banking account of the customers from diverse blacklisted IP (Internet Protocol). Thus, it is necessary for the e-mail recipient to get done the authentication procedure. The user is also told that if he failed to conduct the verification practice, his online banking account might be disabled.

The e-mail contains a hyperlink that takes the recipient to a phishing site.

Meanwhile, the Bank is separating itself from the scam mail and has posted an alert message on its website. Absa informed its customers that the Bank would never send a mail asking them to verify their login information.

In addition, the Bank official site has "How to Spot a Mail Scam" segment that directs users as to how to detect phishing scams. As an extra safety measure, the Bank informed its customers to call on its hotline numbers for any assistance or mail at absa@absa.co.za. Moreover, customers are told to change their usernames and passwords to evade becoming a victim of the phishing scam.

Further, security experts state that unawareness and voracity are the important causes which result in falling of several people to phishing scams as the sites of hackers are designed to lure and make people disclose even the most private information.

Finally, it is not just the financial sector which is being hit by phishers. Famous sites which offer online transactions particularly those selling FIFA World Cup tickets, to be held in 2010 in South Africa, are also being attacked.

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» SPAMfighter News - 7/22/2009