8000% Rise In Internet Banking Fraud

Many banks have started to offer online banking facilities in the UK, and some banks even operate exclusively online.  Although consumers seem to be growing increasingly confidence with regards to conducting their banking online, the alarming figures indicate that perhaps further information needs to be made available to consumers with regards to Internet banking fraud and how it works.

It seems that the main culprit in the rise of Internet banking fraud is a process known as phishing, and this is where fraudster set up fake website or send out fake emails in a bid to obtain the account details of consumers. Many consumers that are used to banking online don’t think twice about providing their details, but banks have already stated that they do not send out emails to account holders asking them to enter their account details.

Colin Whittaker, Head of Security for APACS, stated: “The rate of growth in phishing is down to a number of factors not least that they have been able to industrialize the process by which they are launching attacks. It seems people are falling victim to phishing attacks less often, which is one of the reasons there has been an increase in the volume of phishing emails.”

According to officials and watchdogs in the UK, millions of pounds have been swindled from unsuspecting consumers, who assume that any emails that they receive with the name of their bank on it must in fact be from the bank. However, consumers that receive such emails should never provide their account details, and should instead report the incident to their bank.