Prevent being caught by Phishing
FireFox Phishing Warning
Phishing is one of those big words which came with the Internet.
What this big word means is that there are people who setup dummy web sites which look exactly like the bank’s web site. They then send you an email, pretending to be the bank, in which they ask you to confirm your login details. When you enter your details on the site they get hold of your login details, then log into your bank account and steal your money. They even do this with the SARS web site where they say you received a tax refund and they need your banking login details to pay the money to your account.
Personally I think the banks should be burned for the fact that the phishers manage to steal your money because with the new law you are not supposed to be able to open a bank account without identification and proof of address. Before those people can steal your money they must set themselves up as a beneficiary in your account and transfer the money to their account. The bank can see to which account the money has been transferred, thus the banks are supposed to know who the criminals are.
Standard Bank launched software the other day which helps its users to identify phishing sites.
If you are using FireFox as your web browser you do not really need such software. FireFox now has a built in Phishing warning function, something the others like Microsoft will soon copy. If you visit a phishing web site by mistake using FireFox you will get a huge red warning window. If you miss this you must be really dum. You can download and install FireFox for free at http://www.mozilla.com/ .
So switch to FireFox and help yourself to make the Internet a safer place.
The best way to prevent phishing attacks is to use your head;
- Remember the bank will NEVER ever send you an email and ask for your login details.
- Look at the URL of the site you are using, read my previous post at http://pietpetoors.com/blog/bank-fraud-over-the-internet/
If they still catch you with this age old trick it is your own fault, BUT I still feel that the banks should be held 100% responsible for all losses because the money gets transfered to another account and they must know who’s account it is.
FireFox Phishing Warning
Now that I loaded it to the site I see something funny. The mail says “Date and Time: 27/10/2010 at 09:am” but as i sit here behind the computer it is 27/10/2010 07h49, so it seems as if we are moving into the future here.
Here is another good and new one I received from people targeting FNB. The golden rule remains, nether ever click a link in an email asking you to log into your bank account.
Here’s another good one.
The subject line is:
Your FNB Account Statement Show R 560.99 Debit Order
and the content is:
If you click on the click here link it takes you to a web site which looks exactly as your bank’s web site. When you think that you are logging into the site using your login details, you are in fact sending your login details to the scamsters, they then use your details to steal your money. If you use FireFox as browser it will warn you most of the time when it is a fraudulent web site
Yes, the bloke sent me about 34 payment during the past week,he must be bankrupt by now. Check the comments further down, I did post that email on here
I got a payment notice today from Standard Bank from a James Du Plesis for R39 470.00
Hi there,
What happens if you go click on the “click here’ they have on these emails.
Here is another version of the Standard Bank email, note how these scamsters use “security” as a way to lure you into entering your details.
Here is another version of the Standard Bank Phishing scam emails:
Here is another version:
Check out this one, it is also a good one. They use the phishing preventing software to lure the user into giving them their details.
Here is the latest one I received, this is actually a good one. It is amazing to see that they do not even bother too much to setup a false URL, think they catch enough people.
The email reads:
Yes, I also get about 10 emails per day claiming to be from Standard Bank. It is interesting to see what these people try to get you to send them your details.
Hey Pieter, i have been receiving emails claiming to be from Standard Bank saying they have new security updates and i need to login. The funny thing is I dont even have a Standard Bank account. I also have been receiving emails that i have won this loterry and that loterry. One might just believe a once of email, but winning 20 different lotteries in 1 year. I must be the luckiest person on earth.
Cheers
bj