Council Cautions Consumers about Hoax E-mail

Fiji's Consumer Council is warning users against answering any e-mail or clicking any web-link that they may get, in connection with Internet banking, from BSP, published The Fiji Times dated March 6, 2012.

Indeed, according to Premila Kumar, Chief Executive of the Council, on obtaining a clarification from BSP regarding the matter, the Council perceived that the e-mail asserting its sender as BSP's customer care -customercare@bsp.com.fj actually was from Internet-fraudsters attempting at misguiding consumers. Fijivilaage.com published this on March 5, 2012.

Moreover, addressing recipients as "Dear BSP OnlineA@Customer," the phishing electronic mail tells the reader that there's one 'New Security Message Alert" within his account's Secure Message Centre and that he can see the message by hitting on https://ib.bsp.com.fj/Login.aspx followed with accessing the Message Centre. Only those persons whom the Bank authorizes can utilize BSP Fiji Internet Banking, meaning that no unauthorized access will be allowed, the e-mail concludes.

Here, consumers are reiterated that they shouldn't give out any bank particular via electronic mail since according to the banks, they won't ever exchange confidential data by using e-mail.

Notably according to the Council, several banks of national or international stature are getting attacked via hoax e-mail. Additionally, instances prevail wherein e-mails offering lucrative jobs in foreign countries direct consumers to send details related to their contact information and bank account.

But, it's advisable that they remain vigilant and avoid answering such e-mails. However, incase they've hit the provided web-link or given out the relevant details then they must instantly contact their banking institution.

Remarking about the above fraud, security researchers stated that BSP didn't dispatch electronic mails notifying end-users that there wouldn't be restricted access for their accounts and also didn't dispatch electronic mails asking them to provide their secret bank operation details.

They urged everyone who got the above kind of hoax messages to redirect them at hoax@bsp.com.pg the e-mail id of BSP. Also, the messages shouldn't be forwarded rather dispatched like an attachment. BSP would substantiate their receipts. Finally, BSP clients during any transaction must avoid revealing their login particulars along with PIN for their bank card to anybody, the researchers concluded.

Related article: Consultant Offers Suggestions to Apple Struggling against malware & Online Threats

» SPAMfighter News - 3/10/2012