It is really disappointing to learn that scammers have found a new way to steal money from their victims. And this time their deeds are resulting in literally emptying the victim’s bank accounts. Moreover, law enforcement agencies have discovered that fraudsters are using text messages sent by banks to customers to launch such cyber attacks.
In one of the recent post published by Daily Mail, most of the victims have been identified to be victims of Santander UK which is one of the largest British Banks.
Cybersecurity Insiders has learned that scammers are hijacking the messages sent to customer’s mobile phones and are then diverting the calls and texts to their own handsets. Then they are using the info to steal vast sums from account holders. Some users have even reported to Daily Mail that their accounts have been emptied in this ongoing cyber heist.
From past few weeks, Santander has been fobbing off the fraud victims who almost lost their life savings. The bank even blamed some of its customers for handing over the codes, sent by text messages to registered mobile phones. But early this week, based on the requests of the payments authority, the bank has decided to probe into the matter on a technically serious note.
Some security experts are discouraging UK’s Facebook users from posting details like phone numbers, first school, pet names and favorite football teams. GCHQ’s cybersecurity division has recently discovered that hackers are using this info to gain control of their victim’s bank accounts through different streams.
As per our sources, customers of Lloyds, Halifax, Tesco, TSB, and Metro Bank have also fallen victim to this fraud. Some fraudsters are using the hijacked money to immediately buy discount coupons on shopping websites and are booking rental rooms and villas for their vacations. And victims of the said cyber heist are realizing this fraud after a couple of months or so.
More details are awaited!
