Scam warning issued
Monday, 21st September 2015.
Police are warning businesses and individuals to be alert for scams after a Suffolk company was conned into handing over more than a million pounds by a bogus caller.
Suffolk Constabulary was contacted on Wednesday, 16 September, by the company who reported they had been a victim of a cyber-enabled fraud.
The suspect had contacted a staff member via their business telephone line and explained they were a representative from the company’s bank. The staff member was told there was a virus on the firm’s internet banking facility and were advised that the money in the company accounts should be transferred into separate holding accounts whilst the bank rectified the issue. During the call the suspect managed to disguise his own telephone number to show the number of the bank’s fraud team which was on their website.
The caller managed to gain the staff member’s trust and instructed them to download remote access software on the firm’s computer. This enabled the suspect to access the internet banking and transfer monies from the victims account.
The incident has left staff at the company understandably distressed and police are issuing a warning in a bid to raise awareness of this type of offence and the method used.
Banks or police will not ask you to transfer or handover sums of money and you should never give out details of bank accounts, PINs or personal information. If you receive contact from an unknown caller stop and think for a moment.
Be suspicious particularly if they are telling you something is wrong or that you need to send or handover money. If you suspect you may be the victim of a bogus call hang up and leave the phone down for at least ten minutes or use another phone before contacting anyone else.
Don’t be afraid to hang up on unknown callers. Genuine callers will understand if you want to call them back later, after checking existing paperwork to confirm numbers, to check their identity.
Anyone who may has any concerns regarding this type of incident or who has been a victim are asked to report this to police or Action Fraud – the National Fraud Reporting centre on 0300 123 2040.
Suffolk Constabulary was contacted on Wednesday, 16 September, by the company who reported they had been a victim of a cyber-enabled fraud.
The suspect had contacted a staff member via their business telephone line and explained they were a representative from the company’s bank. The staff member was told there was a virus on the firm’s internet banking facility and were advised that the money in the company accounts should be transferred into separate holding accounts whilst the bank rectified the issue. During the call the suspect managed to disguise his own telephone number to show the number of the bank’s fraud team which was on their website.
The caller managed to gain the staff member’s trust and instructed them to download remote access software on the firm’s computer. This enabled the suspect to access the internet banking and transfer monies from the victims account.
The incident has left staff at the company understandably distressed and police are issuing a warning in a bid to raise awareness of this type of offence and the method used.
Banks or police will not ask you to transfer or handover sums of money and you should never give out details of bank accounts, PINs or personal information. If you receive contact from an unknown caller stop and think for a moment.
Be suspicious particularly if they are telling you something is wrong or that you need to send or handover money. If you suspect you may be the victim of a bogus call hang up and leave the phone down for at least ten minutes or use another phone before contacting anyone else.
Don’t be afraid to hang up on unknown callers. Genuine callers will understand if you want to call them back later, after checking existing paperwork to confirm numbers, to check their identity.
Anyone who may has any concerns regarding this type of incident or who has been a victim are asked to report this to police or Action Fraud – the National Fraud Reporting centre on 0300 123 2040.
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