halifax security

[H block]

Thank god that Halifax are taking security seriously and that they are tryingto keep one step ahead in foiling these internet fraudsters. They are one step ahead alright because I have not even got an account with them.

Once again hurrah for Halifax......................




Dear Client of Halifax Online!

Summer 2006 has been hard for our Bank due to the increasing number of clandestine practices.
Sensible information about our clients is of constant interest for swindlers.
Lots of people seek protection from the hazard of losing money from their bank accounts.


In this respect, Bank announces that September is the fraud-fight month.
Before Octomber 1st all our clients should activate new account protection system.
We have upgraded and considerably improved it. Top EFT specialists tested the system, and independent experts have already affirmed its reliability.
We do not publish this information in mass media in order that malefactors could not employ it criminally.


You have been randomly chosen for the final testing of the account protection system.
Now we offer you to go to http://security.halifax.co.uk/update.co and activate the new security system by entering the Internet banking as always.
Currently you may notice some defects.
We are aware of them so you do not have to inform us of these problems, we shall obviate the difficulties on our own.


Please note that on and after September 1st you will have to use the new security system, otherwise your account will be blocked until your identity is proven.
That is why we strongly recommend changing over to the new security standard as soon as possible.


Best regards,

Fraud Fight Department
Halifax Online

 

[Virgo's Haircut]

I get similar emails on a near daily basis from Barclays. I have never banked with them, but I'm pleased they are looking after me.

 

[Superphil]

I had that today also, do people really fall for this stuff?

 

[JAMC]

I got one from the Bank of Ireland and I live in the U.K.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Bank of Ireland is constantly working to increase security for all Online Banking users. To ensure the integrity of our online payment system, we periodically review accounts. Your account might be restricted due to numerous login attempts into your online account. Restricted accounts continue to receive payments, but they are limited in their ability to send or withdraw funds. To lift up this restriction, you need to confirm your online banking details.

Click on the following link to confirm your online banking details.

https://www.365online.com/banking.htm

*Important*
You are required to provide all necessary information completely and correctly otherwise, due to security reasons, we may have to close your account temporarily.



Security Advisor
Bank of Ireland



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.
For assistance, log in to your 365 Online Bank account and choose the "Help" link on any page.

Bank of Ireland Email ID # 1009

 

[Lord Bracknell]

That's much more polite than what I have just been sent by a similar bunch of illiterate crooks who hope I'm a gullible Nationwide customer:-

Security Alert: Account Update

Dear Nationwide Customer,

In The Last Fews Weeks,Our Online Banking Security Team Has Observed Multiple Logons On Your Internet Banking Account,From Different Blacklisted IP's Therefore Been Blocked,To Prevent Further Unauthorized Access For Your Safety.

We demand that you take 5 minutes out of your online experience and renew your records to avoid running into any future problems with the online service. However, failure to update your records will result in your account suspension. Once you have updated your account records your internet banking service will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.
Please Click Here and renew your account information.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The Lloyds TSB version is slightly more polite, but even less in control of the English language:-

Lloyds TSB Account Update Notification


Dear Valued Customer,

In The Last Fews Weeks,Our Online Banking Security Team Has Observed Multiple Logons On Your Internet Banking Account,From Different Blacklisted IP's Therefore Been Blocked,To Prevent Further Unauthorized Access For Your Safety. We Have Decided To Put An Extra Verification Process To Ensure Your Identity And Your Internet Banking Account Security.Please click on Continue to Log In button below to continue to the verification process.

N.B (Failure to verify your account details correctly will lead to account suspension)

 

[The Large One]

Dear Client of Halifax Online!

Summer 2006 has been hard for our Bank due to the increasing number of clandestine practices.
Sensible information about our clients is of constant interest for swindlers.
Lots of people seek protection from the hazard of losing money from their bank accounts.

In this respect, Bank announces that September is the fraud-fight month.
Before Octomber 1st all our clients should activate new account protection system.
We have upgraded and considerably improved it. Top EFT specialists tested the system, and independent experts have already affirmed its reliability.
We do not publish this information in mass media in order that malefactors could not employ it criminally.

You have been randomly chosen for the final testing of the account protection system.
Now we offer you to go to http://security.halifax.co.uk/update.co and activate the new security system by entering the Internet banking as always.
Currently you may notice some defects.
We are aware of them so you do not have to inform us of these problems, we shall obviate the difficulties on our own.

Please note that on and after September 1st you will have to use the new security system, otherwise your account will be blocked until your identity is proven.
That is why we strongly recommend changing over to the new security standard as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Fraud Fight Department
Halifax Online

 

[The Large One]

Oh, snap!

 

[Robot Chicken]

I get stuff from Bank of America...

Because of unusual number of invalid login attempts on you account, we had to believe that, their might be some security problem on you account. So we have decided to put an extra verification process to ensure your identity and your account security. Please click on sign in to Online Banking to continue to the verification process and ensure your account security. It is all about your security. Thank you. and visit the customer service section.



Want to get more alerts? Sign in to Bank of America Online Banking and click the "Manage Alerts" link in the "I want to..." box.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This alert is sent automatically. If you would like to make any changes to your Online Banking Alerts service, please sign in to Online Banking and click on the Customer Service Tab. The security and confidentiality of your personal information is important to us.
Because E-Mail Is Not A Secure Form Of Communication, This E-Mail Box Is Not Equipped To Handle Replies.
If you are a Bank of America customer and have sensitive account-related questions, please call the phone number provided on your account statement or the appropriate phone number indicated in the following "Contact Us" link so we can properly verify your identity. For all other questions or comments, please use the Web forms available via Contact Us. We respect your privacy, and you can rest assured that we protect your information, including your email address, and will never sell or share it with marketers outside Bank of America.
To find out more, please read our Privacy Policy. Bank of America E-mail, 6th Floor, 101 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001

 

[Mr Banana]

It really pains me that these people can put so much time and effort into making these things elaborate enough to stand a chance of fooling people, but screw themselves over with the most childlike of literacy errors.

"The fraud-fight"? "Octomber"? "Lift up this restriction"? "Fraud fight department"? Not to mention the obscenely offensive strewing of commas like some sort of grammatical genocide. It's a tra,ge,dy.

 

[ac gull]

got the Halifax one at both work and home e-mail addresses today

the only slight problem being I don't have an account with them!

Suppose I should have clicked on the link as mmouse password eurodisnery etc!

 

[TelscombeGull]

I keep getting these messages from different German banks recently

 

[timbha]

got the Halifax one at both work and home e-mail addresses today

the only slight problem being I don't have an account with them!

Suppose I should have clicked on the link as mmouse password eurodisnery etc!

yep, same for me. If you follow the link it actually links to the genuine site for privacy notices, etc. It's worrying that Halifax security experts haven't got this sorted by now. I tried to do my duty by advising Halifax but couldn't find a contact e mail address on the proper Halifax.co.uk site!

Are NSC users being targetted?

 

[Bry Nylon]

This is actually a GENUINE email I got from my bank today:

Dear Mr *****

Reference: Current Account No: **** ***** **** *****



Lending Manager,
Barclays Bank Plc.

 

[Cian]

yep, same for me. If you follow the link it actually links to the genuine site for privacy notices, etc. It's worrying that Halifax security experts haven't got this sorted by now. I tried to do my duty by advising Halifax but couldn't find a contact e mail address on the proper Halifax.co.uk site!

Are NSC users being targetted?

Erm, no, EVERYONE gets them, they call their ISP, and then India thinks its a real security breach and puts it through to us

As goes the link, if you clicked on it in the actual mail as opposed to the copy&pasted text it'd go somewhere completely different, on a fake site that asks you to enter account details, etc.