Spam E-mails Deceiving Banif Bank (Malta) Customers

As per the warning issued by the Banif Bank (Malta), general masses are required to be wary of the latest spam campaign targeted at the Bank's online customers.

The Bank stated that a large number of people in Gozo and Malta have received the e-mail titled 'Latest Update - introducing: New Secure Server', which is actually a spam, as reported by businesstoday.com.mt in the last week of January 2010.

This spam e-mail purports that it is being sent by the Bank itself. The recipients are asked to click on the link provided in the e-mail to update their security infrastructure in order to ensure secure and private access to their respective accounts.

On the other hand, the Bank recommends its customers that it never uses e-mails with embedded links or software for any sort of immediate installation.

As per the statement issued by a representative of the Bank's IT department, customers need to be extra cautious in case they receive an e-mail asking them to access the website of Banif Bank (Malta) or any other bank by means of an embedded link. Also, the Bank informs the customers that the official Internet banking website of the Bank must be accessed through its legitimate website, which is well protected as the Bank has used international security standards for the purpose, reported independent.com.mt on February 1, 2010.

In the meantime, the police Cyber Crimes Unit have started investigating the case.

Security experts have also come forward to initiate some precautions to be taken by the customers. First and foremost, the customers should ignore, or better delete, any sort of e-mail claiming to be coming from their bank, which asks for providing security information.

Then, on a general note, a spam e-mail includes odd spellings and grammatical errors in the subject box in an attempt to ignore spam filters. Thus, the users are recommended to notice these red flags or give away indications to recognize such e-mails. Furthermore, installing upgraded Internet security software is a must to stop spam from reaching the inbox in the first place.

The Internet banking customers are advised to frequently check their accounts to spot such discrepancies and immediately report such cases for immediate action.

Related article: Spam Scam Bags a Scottish Connection

» SPAMfighter News - 2/8/2010