Email masquerades as official software update
Email masquerades as official software update
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Phishing scam forces NatWest services offline

Bank suspend elements of its online service to protect customers

Robert Jaques, vnunet.com 17 Nov 2004
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NatWest has been forced to suspend some of its UK online banking services after coming under attack from a previously undocumented phishing scam.

Customers logging on to NatWest's online banking service are being advised that they cannot create or amend third-party payment mandates or create standing orders.

According to IT security firm Sophos, the bank has taken the measures following the emergence of an email which masquerades as an official software update from the bank.

It is feared that this may dupe online customers into divulging their passwords and unwittingly provide access to their bank accounts.

The home page of NatWest's site warns: "Fraud Alert. Do not enter any online banking details into pop-ups/new windows that may appear in front of this home page."

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: "NatWest customers, and indeed anyone banking online, should remember to be extremely suspicious of unexpected emails that appear to have come from their bank, and never to click on links contained within them.

"It is good to see a financial institution taking quick action to protect its customers from potential fraud."

More information on how to avoid phishing attacks can be found here.

See also:

Increasing automation and sophisticationAnti-Phishing Working Group reports 'disturbing' new trend  24 Nov 2004
Five banks hit every dayFraudsters looking forward to a very merry Christmas  23 Nov 2004
Applications under threatHas someone sold you a lemon?  17 Nov 2004
Trojan targets UK online banksBanker-AJ Trojan sends passwords and screenshots to remote hackers  11 Nov 2004
Social engineeringStudy reveals junk mail tactics becoming ever more sophisticated  10 Nov 2004
Internet content spoofing scamISA Server 2000 and Proxy Server 2.0 affected by internet spoofing scam  10 Nov 2004
New phishing techniqueJust open an email and you could be the next victim, warns security firm  04 Nov 2004
SecurityThe latest wave of cyber-crimes and acts of vandalism have demonstrated once again that many systems are still vulnerable to attack.  15 Apr 2004

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