Phishing Scam Targets Customers of Bank Windhoek

According to a warning by Bank Windhoek of Namibia during the 3rd week of March 2009, an online phishing scam is targeting customers of the bank. Typically, the e-mail message in the scam contains exciting or upsetting statements that encourage recipients to reply instantly.

Further, the phishing e-mail poses to be sent from a staff of Bank Windhoek that encourages the recipient to click on a given link. Like always, the link connects to a fake web page resembling the bank's page and it asks for the user's online banking credentials like username and password.

Moreover, the e-mails do not address the recipient personally; thereby, they are unsolicited. They also request the user to provide his bank account such as social security and credit card numbers.

In fact, users falling victim to the scam do not even realize it, as the cloned website looks real by utilizing portions of the actual site along with site-redirection tricks.

A spokesperson of the Bank said that any user suspecting an electronic mail's genuineness should notify it to the Bank, as reported by Namibia ECONOMIST on March 20, 2009.

In addition, the Bank posted an alert on its website that warns users against being caught in a phishing fraud. The message also encourages users not to answer e-mails asking for their private details and discourages them to follow links embedded in the e-mail, rather manually enter the bank's URL inside the browser to stay safe.

Moreover, users have been asked to look for 's' in 'https' prefixed to the URL address in the link for the alphabet is a sign of a safe site. They have been urged to watch out for e-mails with grammatical errors that characterize a phishing message. Furthermore, it is also important to look for the certificate of security on a website to ensure safe browsing.

Meanwhile, Bank Windhoek urges anyone having information regarding a phishing scam or if the person has been victimized in one to notify it over e-mail or call the bank's Help-desk number (061)-299-1200 or email info@bankwindhoek.com.na.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 3/27/2009