Safety is a primary concern when transacting financially in both the real and virtual worlds. As such, consumers need to be aware of the particular safety threats that exist in the online world.
As criminals develop new ways to scam consumers into revealing passwords, bank account numbers and other sensitive information, Internet `phishing` (pronounced "fishing") and `spoofing` scams are more difficult to detect, says First National Bank (FNB).
Roland le Sueur, Head of FNB Internet Banking, comments: "Phishing and spoofing are very real dangers in the virtual world. Scam artists who pose as bank officials or other legitimate businesses in phishing and spoofing attacks send out spam e-mails with subject lines like `account update needed` that point to fraudulent Web sites. The purpose of these e-mails is to extract your personal information. This information can then be used by the fraudster to commit fraud in your name."
Such attacks now increasingly use worms and spyware to divert consumers to fraudulent sites without their knowledge. These phishers are not just petty thieves, they are more like an organised crime unit who take advantage of the open and unregulated nature of the Internet, making it very difficult to prevent such identity theft attacks.
To proactively combat the problem of spoof sites, and to help customers transact safely online, FNB proactively introduced the PawProx solution last year. This is a solution that scans the Web looking for sites that contain wording or phrases similar to that of the organisation`s own sites, which helps with early detection and response to these attacks.
To protect your cash and personal details, Le Sueur suggests the following precautions:
* If you are not sure about the origin of an e-mail received, rather check. For example, call the FNB Helpline on 0860 328 257 if you get a suspicious e-mail that claims to be from FNB.
* Never reply to an e-mail (or any other request) for private/secret information such as your username and/or password.
* Instead of following the link from a suspicious e-mail, rather type in the URL in your browser`s address bar to go directly to the Web site.
* When you use a Web site, click on the VeriSign logo and read the security message.
* Check the e-mail for grammatically correct language, as the lack of this is often an indicator of a fraudulent e-mail.
* A legitimate e-mail will not ask/prompt you to go to suspicious Web site addresses to access information - everything should be visible in plain text.
* Check to see that the e-mail is signed by an official.
Le Sueur adds: "FNB takes great pride in the security and safety of its Web site. Security features such as the DigiTag and inContact allow our customers to bank safely online; however, it is paramount that customers remain vigilant and aware at all times.
"Just as people protect their homes from robbery with security gates and an alarm, we protect the public by educating consumers with information such as this and campaigns such as FNB Online Security Week," concludes Le Sueur.
FNB is a division of FirstRand Bank Limited and is an authorised financial services provider.
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