Cyber-thugs operating from an overseas website have launched a new attack on Belizeans, by duplicating the online bank site of Atlantic Bank, and sending fraudulent messages to some bank customers, via e-mail, in an attempt to solicit their confidential account information, so they could steal money out of their account.
Claudia R. Lopez, Marketing & Process Manager of Atlantic Bank Ltd., who claims the online banking system features tight security, told Amandala today that the bank learned of the attempted scam on Wednesday, June 3, and 12 customers called in claiming they had received a worrisome e-mail about their online account.
“We detected irregular activity on your Atlantic Bank Account on 03/06/2009. For your protection, you must verify this activity before you can continue using your Account,” says the e-mail.
“To access your statement, just click on the link below…https://www.atlabank.com/…This instruction has been sent to all bank customers and is obligatory to follow.”
The tricksters added an “s” to the “http” portion of the website address, and when customers click on that link, they are instead sent to a webpage on the site of www.indianfreeclassifies.com.
Amandala tried the link, and it pointed not to the authentic Atlantic Bank website, but to the address: http:///www.indianfreeclassifies.com/paypopup.html.
On Thursday, the operation had been aborted and so the fraudulent webpage page came up blank.
Lopez says that if anyone has responded to the e-mail, they need to contact the bank immediately.
After discovering the fraud on Wednesday, the bank immediately e-mailed its online banking clients, asking them to not follow the instructions in the fraudulent e-mail.
“Atlantic Bank will never send emails requesting you to provide, update or confirm sensitive information. If you receive these e-mails, do not enter the requested information and notify us immediately,” the bank’s notice says.
One question that remains unanswered is, how the cyber-thugs were able to access the e-mail addresses of Atlantic Bank customers, so that they could send them the e-mails soliciting their personal and confidential information.
Lopez tells Amandala that the bank is trying to determine what authority is the right agency to investigate the attempt to rob customers of their money.
She noted, however, that the bank has sound security features in place that would guard against anyone transferring funds out of a customer’s account; moreover, she said, they are working to upgrade security features.
According to Lopez, no customer has lost money on account of the attempted fraud, and this is the first time, she said, that Atlantic Bank has been targeted in this manner.
As to who is behind the scam, Lopez said they have no idea who is responsible, but they suspect that it is someone from outside Belize.
She says that any customer receiving the e-mail should contact the bank immediately.