ABSA Warns Customers of Fresh Phishing E-Mails

A prominent bank of South Africa namely ABSA is warning its customers of recently detected phishing e-mails that are attempting at scamming innocent accountholders. It also notes that all scam e-mails have distinct versions attached so as to deceive users.

Reportedly, the bank discovered one sample of these phishing e-mails on February 18, 2010. In that, recipient is told that customers have been complaining ABSA of experiencing illegitimate activities on their accounts created for Internet banking. Consequently, the Bank from time-to-time examines consumers' accounts and if necessary tentatively limits access to the accounts which it thinks are susceptible to illegitimate use.

The e-mail then states that it is an ABSA communication to the recipient since the Bank has come across certain unacceptable login attempts into his/her account.

The Bank has consequently decided to tentatively limit and restrict the access to the customer's account till the time ABSA verifies his identity. However, to enjoy uninterrupted Internet banking access, the customer is asked to follow a web-link given in the fraud e-mail, which actually directs the victim to a phishing website.

In addition to this, ABSA reports about one more phishing e-mail it spotted on February 12, 2010.

Again targeting ABSA customers, this second e-mail talks about a reimbursement to every accountholder of the Bank on charges he incurred during the year. Subscribers of online banking who have at least R1000 as account balance with ABSA will get this benefit, the e-mail claims.

Customers are suggested to confirm their account details so as to become eligible for this facility. Accordingly, they must follow a given web-link.
However, following the link takes the user onto a Canadian website that tries to grab his/her personal information.

ABSA is thus reminding its clients to ignore these e-mails as these aren't from the Bank. It reiterated that any legitimate bank wouldn't ever request for customers' information through e-mail. It also suggested that recipients of the scam e-mails should forward the messages to ABSA before deleting them instantly.

Related article: APACS Reports Phishing On The Rise

» SPAMfighter News - 2/26/2010