Security23.08.2015

Beware of fake IT callers in SA who can empty your bank account

By Staff Writer

Fraudsters are gaining access to unsuspecting victim’s banks accounts and draining them of all money within seconds, thanks to a “cold calling technical support scam”.

According to a report in The Sunday Independent, the fraudsters use tactics similar to the Microsoft support scam – which allows the perpetrator remote access to a victim’s PC.

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) said these scammers are targeting local banks users.

Sabric urged bank users to keep their security software up to date, and not allow anyone remote access to their PC.

How the scam works

“You will receive a call from a number you don’t recognise and the caller claims to be from a reputable computer or software company,” said Sabric.

“Through skillful manipulation, the caller persuades you that it is crucial that you sort out a problem with your computer.”

The scammer then offers to guide the user through the process. Once the “issue” has been resolved after following a set of instructions, the scammer will have remote access to the victim’s PC.

The scammer then asks for a small fee to be paid to them for services rendered, offering the option of a credit card payment or EFT.

Because people are hesitant to give their credit card details out over the phone, they opt for the EFT payment and add the scammer as a beneficiary, stated the newspaper.

“The scammers then use the remote access to load malware… and harvest the victim’s banking details.”

Once this is done, the victim’s bank account is cleaned out.

Sabric said the offending calls seemed to be coming from outside South Africa, with the callers’ scripts very “convincing”.

The full report can be read in The Sunday Independent of 23 August 2015.