Beware of the latest email banking scam (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Beware of the latest email banking scam

12:09am Thursday 22nd April 2004

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SOPHISTICATED forms of fraudulent emails from all over the globe are hitting the computer screens of random recipients across the UK.

Most of the emails, being sent from as far away as Russia and the Far East, claim to be from official UK banks.

They ask for personal banking details, giving the reason that web sites need to be updated and PIN numbers, account details and on-line passwords need to be confirmed for a new log-in system.

Once the fraudsters have access to your bank details and on-line passwords, they are free to log on to your personal account via the internet and transfer money from your account to their's.

The message from the banks is simple.

Official UK banks never ask for personal details via email, and certainly would never ask for your passwords.

However they add that if you have been conned, don't fret, as your local branch will be able to help as long as you contact them soon enough.

Fraudulent banking emails have been a scourge of the US communication system for many years, but only began came to the UK some two years ago with the bulk since October last year.

The most recent such email claimed to be from Halifax bank.

It lifted the official Halifax banner, which contains a picture of Howard the face of Halifax the Halifax trademark and the words Always Giving You Extra.

These fraudsters, who have since been traced to a base in Korea, have used the banner and part of the official Halifax on-line address, but it is fraudulent.

A spokesman for Halifax said: "The fraudulent emails, under the heading of Phishing, (CORRECT), are something that is worrying.

"These people do not have access to specific addresses as such. What they do is send out millions of emails to random addresses and get lucky on occasions.

"The emails usually tell people something like your banking information is being updated and they ask for you bank details and password.

"Banks never ask people their personal details via email. All we can say is that if people receive emails such as this then delete them as soon as possible. Do not reply to them.

"If you have emailed your details, don't despair. Call your local branch immediately and they will be able to help you."

Further evidence that such emails are fraudulent now exists.

If you have never signed a statement agreeing to be put on mailing lists, you will not receive them not from legitimate companies anyway as this practice has now been made illegal.

A spokesman for the Government's Information Commission said: "A law was introduced in this country last December which said that major companies were not allowed to mass produce marketing lists containing names of people who had not previously allowed them to send them information.

"Now, unless you give consent to being sent information via email or text message or any means, you should not lawfully receive such information."

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