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Fraud and Security
Scams
"You mean all I have to do is tell you my card number so you can identify me and I win a Ferrari? Finally I hit the jackpot! I've never won anything before."
You should always be on the lookout for scams, that is, offers that seem too good to be true, or callers asking for your personal information such as PINs or account details. The Greater Building Society will never ring you and ask you for this information. It would be impossible to list all scams currently being used as, for example, over 1500 new internet or telephone scams were listed in January 2004 alone.
- Be aware of scams, such as spam emails, chain letters and persons purporting to be representatives of Government Departments, financial institutions or other businesses.
- Do not give your name, bank account details, copies of your passport, birth certificate or any other personal details to anyone other than for legitimate purposes.
- Be suspicious of any correspondence received from overseas where you have been advised to forward large sums of money or that you have won a prize.
Below are a few of the latest scams being used. This site will be regularly updated with information as it comes to hand in an effort to help you understand some scams and assist to protect you against falling prey to a scam.
Phishing
Scammers are targeting two of Australia's largest financial institutions with emails that have a new twist. These scam emails inform customers that the banks regular online site is unable to handle their enquiry due to a denial of service.
Hence, the emails say customers should visit another site - which, very neatly, includes the words "antiddos" in the URL.
The idea is to lure users to a site where a Trojan can be loaded onto the user's PC. This Trojan logs keystrokes whenever an online banking site is accessed on the PC in question and these keystrokes are sent to an email address specified within the Trojans code.
Another financial institution is also being targeted with a tired old scam where an email message is sent stating "We have just installed our new security system which will help you to avoid frequently fraud transactions and to keep your investments in safety. Due to this technical update we are insisting our clients to verify reactivate their accounts." (This is a portion of the actual email sent. Incorrect grammar may suggest that the email is a scam and fraudulent.)
Nigerian Scam
Fraudsters have been sending out letters inviting individuals to participate in a scheme that ultimately turns out to be non existent. Usually, the letters purport to be from a government official who needs help in distributing millions of dollars out of the country in return for a cut of the money. Recipients of the letters are required to divulge bank account details and forward tens of thousands of dollars in 'advance fees'.
Spanish Lottery Scam
Victims of this scam receive a letter advising them they have won a large prize from the 'Spanish Lottery'. In order to collect the prize, they must send money before a certain date to a bank account in Spain to cover the cost of traces, bank fees, delivery and insurance costs.
Fraudulent offshore transfer scam
A large email based scam is currently operating where applicants ("mules") are recruited to receive stolen funds and forward those funds overseas via a Funds Transfer service.
The "mules" receive an email offering employment. This employment involves the "company" forwarding funds to your account on the condition you withdraw those funds and send them offshore using genuine transfer services (such as Western Union).
The funds transferred into the "mules" accounts are, in fact, stolen from victim's accounts and the "mules" recruited by the offenders to launder the money on their behalf. The company does not exist legitimately. This is a widespread scam and the Australian Federal Police and the Australian High Tech Crime Centre are active in its prevention.
If you have answered an email of this description, or if you suspect you have received funds to your account in this way, please contact the Fraud Prevention Department of the Greater Building Society on 1300 653 679 as soon as possible.
For further information on this scam please contact Fraud Prevention Department of the Greater Building Society on 1300 653 679. Additional information is available at the following sites:
To report a scam or, if you believe you are a victim of a scam contact the police or the Greater Building Society on 1300 651400 for assistance or advice, or email fraud@greater.com.au.