Scam E-mails Targeting Westpac Australia Clients, Cautions Bank

Well-known Australian bank Westpac Australia has issued an alert for its customers towards remaining cautious about one hoax e-mail that states they must log onto an online site for substantiating the particulars of their payment cards, published computerworld.com.au dated September 9, 2013.

Displaying a header, "Creditcard INFO-possible fraudulent transaction," the scam e-mail reaching certain customers stated that the bank detected one error within the recipient's credit card details with Westpac. While it wasn't clear why the error occurred, however, to maintain security, the bank had deactivated the card tentatively. Now, it was necessary that the user update his details so he could continue using his card. For canceling the deactivation status, he should hit the next link as also complete the instructions given for making his card active again, the e-mail ended.

Reacting to the currently going e-mail scam, the bank posted on twitter.com that the web-link inside the electronic mail connected with one phony Westpac site, therefore users mustn't open it while simply erase the message.

A Spokeswoman of Westpac Australia stated that the bank routinely apprised clients about harmful spam mails. Computerworld.com.au reported this. The Spokeswoman added that Westpac provided security suggestions for assisting clients safeguard themselves against the above kinds of threats via its website and social media.

Meanwhile, security analysts noted that no bank else a genuine financial institution would ever dispatch any unsolicited e-mail, which directed the recipient for entering his confidential financial information via following certain web-link alternatively through an online form given as attachment.

Disturbingly, it was because of the above kinds of scam e-mail runs which had resulted in an increase in phishing online, the analysts added. They lamented that even with enormous publicity people globally kept getting victimized with phishing scams daily, as such spoofing continued to act as a very frequent form of online deception.

In the meantime, Westpac customers had gotten struck with another phishing scam over the last few months. Security researchers, during August 2013, detected e-mails supposedly from the bank, insisting clients filled as well as submitted one fresh "confirmation form" sent to them through a file attachment.

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