Email scam doing the rounds

Once again email scams are doing the rounds in Plymouth - even we've been targeted here at the Heart newsroom with a 'phishing' email.

You get an email, and it looks genuine enough. The sender’s address seems to be legitimate, and ‘appears’ to be from say your bank. Perhaps it says you need to "update" or "validate" your personal information, eg your bank account number.

This high-tech scam is known as "phishing", and it has already been used against many large wellknown organisations and their customers.

For more details and advice on what to do if you receive a bogus email Click Here:

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/watch_out/Commonscams/phishing/

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/watch_out/

Candice Durett from HSBC said: "We just need to reiterate that it is very important to remember never to give your password to anyone at all and often these scams are a way to try and get customers to pass on their personal details.  

"Also, if you receive an email like this and you're NOT an HSBC customer, you can be sure it's a scam."

This is the email we received - Don't clink on the link as this lets the fraudsters know the email is active and your more likely to be bombarded with more.

 

Dear News,

 

This e-mail has been sent to you by HSBC UK to inform you that we were unable to verify your account details. 

This might be due to either of the following reasons:

1. A recent change in your personal information. (eg:  address, phone)
2. Submitting incorrect information during register process.
   
©Due to this, to ensure that your email service is not interrupted, we request you 

to confirm and update your information today by following the link below

Weblink inserted here

  
If you have already confirmed your  information then please  disregard this message.
  
Regards,
HSBC customer support


 © HSBC Bank plc 2002 - 2010

WHAT TO DO

Never respond to email or pop-up messages that ask for your personal or financial information, and don’t click on links in the message.

Don’t cut and paste a link from the message into your web browser - phishers can make links look like they go to a genuine site, but then actually take you to a look-alike site.

If you are concerned about your account, contact the organisation using a phone number you know to be genuine, or open a new internet browser session and type in the company’s correct web address yourself. Using anti-virus software and a firewall, and keeping them up to date, can also help.

If you think you may have been a victim of a scam or for advice on how to avoid scams call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.