Clients of First Hawaiian Bank Duped by Phishing E-mails

A phony First Hawaiian Bank internet site was removed on November 19, 2007 after the security staff was warned about a "phishing" message that was victimizing First Hawaiian clients.

The mail distributed on the morning of November 19, 2007 claimed to be from the bank. The bogus message stated that the First Hawaiian was carrying out usual maintenance of security system and that clients were being randomly chosen for confirmation. Alleged phishing e-mails tried to lead individuals to Websites where they are required to give confidential banking details, permitting cyber criminals to collect the data and afterwards exploit it for their own benefit.

The bogus message is addressed directly to 'Esteemed Members of the First Hawaiian Bank' and says that through random selection, the bank has chosen the customer to participate in security measures that necessitate them to undergo through a string of identity checks.

The e-mail also said that in case of non-receipt of proper account proof within a day, the said account would be presumed to be phony and would be frozen.

First Hawaiian Bank's spokeswoman, Susan Kam, stated that this was one of those phishing scams that have aimed the bank's clients, although they often surface in Hawaii and throughout the nation, as reported by Pacific Business News on November 19, 2007. These scams are tackled independently as they surfaced and there is always someone on the lookout for them, said Kam.

According to the Vice Chairman of information management and operations, Gary Caulfied, the bank, along with an external company, watch out for such scams, reported Pacific Business News on November 19, 2007.

As per the First Hawaiian Bank, its security squad had been successful in disenabling the fake Website.

One another phishing message making the rounds on November 19, 2007 attempted to dupe the customers of the Kauai Community Federal Credit Union. The Lihu'e-located credit union has been the target of various phishing messages over the last week. The present phony e-mail declares that the client's account has been briefly frozen and that he should open the specified link to update the account.

Regional financial organizations assert they don't send e-mails to clients demanding account details and to phone their offices if they have queries regarding any message.

» SPAMfighter News - 11/30/2007