EBIL, Etisalat move quickly against Internet scam attempt

Hackers have begun targeting local bank customers tby means of fraudulent spam, but swift action by Emirates Bank International Ltd (Ebil) and Etisalat has thwarted the most recent attempt to come to light.

Local banks reiterated there is no cause for panic as their operational systems are secure and customers have been alerted.

An e-mail purportedly from Emirates Bank was issued to multiple users within the UAE, and the link was to a website hosted in Russia that was recently registered to a fake US address. It called for customers to enter their user ID and password, followed by other security information which could allow for transfer of funds.

"After it was brought to our attention, and with the prompt assistance of Etisalat, we were able to block the fake site within the UAE. We monitored activity on the host server and noticed it went offline later in the afternoon," said Graeme Steele, manager, group operations, Ebil.

Presumably, the hacker realised the activities were being monitored and hence decided to go offline.

Ebil has alerted BankNet users of this type of scam and how to avoid it.

"It is an industry issue and all banks are facing this problem. We will continue to create customer and public awareness about such scams," Steele said. Customers of foreign banks such as HSBC, Barclays and Citibank have in recent weeks been targeted by hackers through false websites.

Other local banks contacted yesterday said they are aware of this and have already warned customers. "We have sent out advisories to our customers to be alert and not to part with any information, and to bring any such e-mail to the bank's notice immediately," said a senior official of an Abu Dhabi-based bank.