FAQs
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Q:Where can I get more information about keeping my PC secure?
A:
For more information on keeping your PC secure visit getsafeonline.org.uk.
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Q:What should I do if I have become involved in a money mule scam?
A:
Contact your bank immediately.
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Q:What should I do if I receive a money mule email or advert?
A:
You should never respond to these, especially if you are asked to provide your bank account details. If a specific bank is mentioned in the advert, you should contact them on a published number, NOT the number in the email.
Bank Safe Online recommend that if you have received a phishing or scam email, either from a bank, or unknown company that you provide the details of the email to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. To report a scam please click here: Action Fraud
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Q: Who do I contact if I think that I have been targeted by a Trojan?
A:
If you think your computer has been infected with a Trojan, you should try and remove it using anti-virus software, or seek the support of your computer or software supplier. If you have used your online banking service recently, you should contact your bank so that they can take steps to protect your accounts from fraud.
Bank Safe Online recommend that if you have received a phishing or scam email, either from a bank, or unknown company that you provide the details of the email to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. To report a scam please click here: Action Fraud -
Q:What do I do if I think I have already disclosed my personal security details on a phishing site?
A:
Call your bank immediately , informing them of when this happened and how you were contacted. This will enable your bank to investigate and ensure that your account is protected.
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Q:Who do I report a phishing incident to?
A:
In the first instance you should inform that bank using the contact details listed on their website. If you receive any suspicious emails or you think you've seen a phishing website, or an offer to become a money mule then you can report it by clicking on the "Report a scam" button in this website.
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Q:How successful are the criminals who send phishing emails?
A:
Most people spot phishing emails when they receive them and they delete them. However, as the scam emails have become more sophisticated and the number of internet users increases, the risk of customers being fooled into giving away their security details potentially increases.
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Q: How do the phishers obtain email addresses?
A:
Phishing emails are types of spam email that are sent at random to customers and non-customers of banks alike. Spammers gather email addresses from a variety of sources such as web pages and newsgroups and these lists are traded across the internet by fraudsters. Fraudsters do not get hold of the email addresses from banks and the bank's own systems are not used to send the emails.
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Q:What is being done to stop phishing?
A:
The banking industry works very closely with a number of partners in the UK and overseas, such as the Police Central eCrime Unit (PCeCU), Internet Service Providers and software companies, to clamp down on phishing attacks. Working together is the most effective way to tackle the criminal groups behind online banking fraud. Customers still need to be wary of the threat of phishing emails and ensure they take steps to protect themselves and their computers.
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Q:How long have phishing and Trojan attacks been around?
A:
Although phishing has been around for some years, the first sophisticated phishing attacks on internet banking customers started in March 2003. These were aimed at bank customers abroad before spreading to the UK in September 2003. Fraudsters’ use of Trojans to capture sensitive information entered into websites started to grow from mid-2004 onwards.