Abney and Associates, Hackers Modus Operandi for e-banking fraud
Delhi police have stumbled upon a new modus operandi of e-banking fraudsters in which they first hack the internet banking account of the target and then get mobile number blocked to prevent the bank customer from receiving SMS alerts about illegal transactions made by them.
In a recent case, two Nigerians were arrested by the staff of South Delhi police for allegedly swindling Rs 70 lakh from the bank account of an NRI based in Japan.
Police seized three laptops from them containing banking data of around 1.5 core people. During interrogation, the duo told police about the new modus operandi in which hackers first hack data of bank customers from its website which contains the internet banking Id, passwords, other basic details and the mobile number on which SMS alerts are sent in case of a transaction from the account.
"Armed with this information, fraudsters reach retail outlet of the mobile service provider and get the number blocked on the pretext that the SIM along with the mobile handset has been stolen or was lost.
"As they already know the name and address of the owner of the mobile number through hacking, they even get a duplicate SIM issued of the same number," said a senior police official.
As per police, there have been a number of such cases in the recent past in which transactions worth lakhs were made after getting the number blocked.
On August 13, Basanta Kumar, Country Head of Bangladesh of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) had filed an FIR with the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi police saying that some fraudsters swindled Rs 19,31,000 from his bank account through internet banking after getting his phone number blocked.
Criminals have gone a step further after banks started sending SMS alerts to their customers about every transaction and the need of the hour is to devise new methods to counter it, the official said.
"Firstly, people should regularly change their internet banking passwords. We have observed that most of such dubious transactions are made at night and more than one at a time. Banks should change their policy and take note of transactions which take place at odd hours and are dubious in nature," he said.
"Banks should ask for alternate mobile number on which a customer can be informed if they detect some suspicious activity from an account such as multiple transactions involving big money or in which money is transferred to foreign accounts," he said.
In a recent case, two Nigerians were arrested by the staff of South Delhi police for allegedly swindling Rs 70 lakh from the bank account of an NRI based in Japan.
Police seized three laptops from them containing banking data of around 1.5 core people. During interrogation, the duo told police about the new modus operandi in which hackers first hack data of bank customers from its website which contains the internet banking Id, passwords, other basic details and the mobile number on which SMS alerts are sent in case of a transaction from the account.
"Armed with this information, fraudsters reach retail outlet of the mobile service provider and get the number blocked on the pretext that the SIM along with the mobile handset has been stolen or was lost.
"As they already know the name and address of the owner of the mobile number through hacking, they even get a duplicate SIM issued of the same number," said a senior police official.
As per police, there have been a number of such cases in the recent past in which transactions worth lakhs were made after getting the number blocked.
On August 13, Basanta Kumar, Country Head of Bangladesh of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) had filed an FIR with the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi police saying that some fraudsters swindled Rs 19,31,000 from his bank account through internet banking after getting his phone number blocked.
Criminals have gone a step further after banks started sending SMS alerts to their customers about every transaction and the need of the hour is to devise new methods to counter it, the official said.
"Firstly, people should regularly change their internet banking passwords. We have observed that most of such dubious transactions are made at night and more than one at a time. Banks should change their policy and take note of transactions which take place at odd hours and are dubious in nature," he said.
"Banks should ask for alternate mobile number on which a customer can be informed if they detect some suspicious activity from an account such as multiple transactions involving big money or in which money is transferred to foreign accounts," he said.
Cyber Monday: Police Offer Fraud Prevention Tips For Online Christmas Shoppers, Abney & Associates News Articles
Newsshopper.co.uk
POLICE are offering internet Christmas shoppers valuable advice on avoiding online fraudsters ahead of Cyber Monday tomorrow (Dec 2).
Traditionally one of the busiest days of the year for online shopping, the Met's new Cyber Crime Unit have put together a handy check-list for shoppers.
Cyber crime and other types of fraud cost the UK economy £81billion in the 2012/13 financial year.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "The worldwide web has provided consumers with an unprecedented opportunity to empty their wallets.
"The unpalatable truth, however, is that as ever greater numbers of us have moved online to conduct our shopping, banking and an array of other financial activities, so fraudsters have identified an opportunity to empty people's wallets for them."
DCI Jason Tunn of the Met's Cyber Crime Unit added: "These are simple tips to keep safe while you shop online for your gifts for friends and family.
"The last thing anyone needs is for their details to be compromised by cyber criminals and online fraudsters - especially during the Christmas period.
"Hopefully these safeguards are easy to follow and can be implemented even by those with limited computer skills."
Top Tips for busiest internet shopping day of the year
1. Install protection on your computer with Anti-Virus or full security suite products
2. Stay up to date - make sure you regularly patch your operating system to minimize your system vulnerabilities
3. Secure your network and use this to shop online. Dont use someone else's as it may not be secure
4. Don't click into links sent out by unsolicited spam or phishing emails - Go direct to the website URL
5. Let your system browser help you stay safe - Enable your browser phishing and malware protection filters
6. Use a credit card instead of a debit card - Credit cards may offer increased protection
7. Always look for the website URL to be shown as HTTPS and look for the padlock icon - Banking data sent over unsecured websites may be vulnerable to online thieves
8. Look at customer reviews for websites if you're not sure on using the site
9. If a deal sounds too good to be true, - it probably is. Consumers are urged to be wary of receiving unsolicited mail asking them to visit sites for cheap deals on hard to get items. These may contain links designed to compromise your computer and steal your credentials
10. If you're still in doubt, consider alternative payment methods such as PayPal, Gift Cards or Pre-Paid credit cards
- Police appeal: Cabbie-bashing thug Darren Crossgill absconded from prison
- X FACTOR: Another 'astounding' week for Bexley's Sam Bailey
- Cyber Monday: Police offer fraud prevention tips for online Christmas shoppers
- X FACTOR: Third time lucky for Gravesend's Tamera Foster
- Gravesend pensioner with brittle bone disease drank herself to death, inquest hears
POLICE are offering internet Christmas shoppers valuable advice on avoiding online fraudsters ahead of Cyber Monday tomorrow (Dec 2).
Traditionally one of the busiest days of the year for online shopping, the Met's new Cyber Crime Unit have put together a handy check-list for shoppers.
Cyber crime and other types of fraud cost the UK economy £81billion in the 2012/13 financial year.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "The worldwide web has provided consumers with an unprecedented opportunity to empty their wallets.
"The unpalatable truth, however, is that as ever greater numbers of us have moved online to conduct our shopping, banking and an array of other financial activities, so fraudsters have identified an opportunity to empty people's wallets for them."
DCI Jason Tunn of the Met's Cyber Crime Unit added: "These are simple tips to keep safe while you shop online for your gifts for friends and family.
"The last thing anyone needs is for their details to be compromised by cyber criminals and online fraudsters - especially during the Christmas period.
"Hopefully these safeguards are easy to follow and can be implemented even by those with limited computer skills."
Top Tips for busiest internet shopping day of the year
1. Install protection on your computer with Anti-Virus or full security suite products
2. Stay up to date - make sure you regularly patch your operating system to minimize your system vulnerabilities
3. Secure your network and use this to shop online. Dont use someone else's as it may not be secure
4. Don't click into links sent out by unsolicited spam or phishing emails - Go direct to the website URL
5. Let your system browser help you stay safe - Enable your browser phishing and malware protection filters
6. Use a credit card instead of a debit card - Credit cards may offer increased protection
7. Always look for the website URL to be shown as HTTPS and look for the padlock icon - Banking data sent over unsecured websites may be vulnerable to online thieves
8. Look at customer reviews for websites if you're not sure on using the site
9. If a deal sounds too good to be true, - it probably is. Consumers are urged to be wary of receiving unsolicited mail asking them to visit sites for cheap deals on hard to get items. These may contain links designed to compromise your computer and steal your credentials
10. If you're still in doubt, consider alternative payment methods such as PayPal, Gift Cards or Pre-Paid credit cards
- Police appeal: Cabbie-bashing thug Darren Crossgill absconded from prison
- X FACTOR: Another 'astounding' week for Bexley's Sam Bailey
- Cyber Monday: Police offer fraud prevention tips for online Christmas shoppers
- X FACTOR: Third time lucky for Gravesend's Tamera Foster
- Gravesend pensioner with brittle bone disease drank herself to death, inquest hears