TW Blog :: Archives for October 2003

How Safe Is Your Money?

Relates to Peregrinations and Security

The other day I received an email with reference to one of my online bank accounts, requesting that I confirm my email address (for security reasons) by supplying my account log-in ID and passwords! I do not feel obliged to mention the (reputable national) bank by name, but it is alarming that spambots and/or hackers are able to acquire email addresses associated with online banking accounts. The email itself was cloaked with the correct domain name for the bank, as was the URL link for confirming details. To further snare the account holder, the requested details had the correct (and quite specific) names used for this particular online bank account.

When I requested verification of the email from the bank, they confirmed they had no association with it, and that other users had also reported receipt. Surely as soon as the scam was first reported, all account holders should have been warned - an unsuspecting account holder could see their account wiped clean in a matter of seconds. I hope that users of internet bank accounts are aware enough not to fall for this kind of scam. Also, that the bank in question reviews its security strategies both externally and internally.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003 at 18:55:34.