Spoofing, of which this couple was the victim, is an increasingly frequent and increasingly sophisticated method. Despite the significant damage amounting to nearly 20,000 euros, the bank was unable to intervene.
Spoofing scams often make local news headlines. Not because this type of scam is not important, but rather because it only targets individuals, alone or in couples. These scams, although not new, are more frequent than they are sophisticated.
So much so that it was impossible for a couple from Lyon to detect that the bank advisor they had on the line was in reality just a hacker who was preparing to relieve them of nearly 20,000 euros , which their bank was unable to reimburse in full.
And if spoofing seems to be growing and hackers’ methods are becoming more and more sophisticated to be ever more effective, there are ways to avoid falling into the trap.
Victims validate banking transactions that the bank does not suspect are fraudulent
Spoofing, in its broad definition, is a scam that involves identity theft. It can be the identity of people, companies, GPS coordinates, or even a bank, as in the case of this couple’s mishap.
When the phone of these two Lyonnais rings, it is their bank number that is displayed. At the end of the line, their bank advisor, claiming an emergency, tells them that their account is being looted. “ Banking operations are in progress, give your codes so that we can protect you », he told them.
And to “protect” them, the bank advisor, who is none other than a crook, like these alloters who spoof their business, expected the couple to give him their bank details. The two comply, under pressure from this fake banker. But unfortunately it is only once the panic has subsided that they become aware of the scam. After a visit to the bank the day after the incident, their real banking advisor deals them the final blow. In spite of themselves, they validated banking transactions for an amount of almost 20,000 euros.
How to avoid falling into the spoofing trap
But that’s not the end of the couple’s setbacks. The bank mentions the “ gross negligence » so as not to have to reimburse the entirety of the damage suffered. Indeed, given that the couple validated the banking transactions after having communicated their details to the scammer, for the bank, there was no way of suspecting that they had been scammed. Both are therefore responsible for their lack of vigilance.
Because it is indeed vigilance that you must demonstrate from now on, when you make purchases or bank transactions online. These few tips will be useful to you to avoid falling into the trap of spoofing and being robbed.
First of all, know that never, ever, will a banking establishment ask you to communicate to them online or by telephone, including by private messaging or by SMS, your bank details, whether it is the code of your credit card. payment or your account number. Floa Bank, which was recently the victim of a cyberattack, reminded its customers of this.
Then, most often, the scammers who use spoofing to fool you play on the urgency of the situation, to create a feeling of panic in you leading you to give in to requests for your bank details. Here again, if you have an advisor on the line who is putting pressure on you, hang up and contact your bank to report the scam.
Also, do not give in to calls from bank advisors who tell you that your payment card has been hacked and that a courier will come and collect it using your code to supposedly “ cancel current transactions “.
Finally, if you have been the victim of spoofing, immediately file an objection with your bank, change your login credentials to your online bank and notify your bank that you have just been scammed. If your bank does not prove that you were grossly negligent, then it must reimburse you for the amounts wrongly taken. At the same time, you can file a pre-complaint online on the THESEE platform on the Service-public.fr website.
Source : Franceinfo
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