Click to play videoNew Delhi: It’s the latest online scam. If you get an email from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) claiming you've won Rs 10 lakh, think twice before clicking on it. You may end up losing a lot of money.
A fake email that seems to come direct from the RBI is creating chaos online. It promises you Rs 10 lakh in prize money within 48 hours. Click on the link and you're taken to what looks like the official RBI website complete with exact web address and logo. But fill in your account details and you can kiss your money goodbye. Because it’s a complete con.
RBI says, “We have had Nigerian attacks in the past, but this is the first phishing attack. The website does look authentic at first, but if you look closer you'll see small spelling mistakes, and the language is not that of RBI. We have issued a warning on our website.”
However, it's not the first time reputable banks have been online targets. Security Company Symantec states Over 1,000 unique phishing attacks occurred on reputed Indian banks during the past year alone.
Symantec Shantunu Ghosh says, “We expect even more attacks online against financial institutions this year since it's a recession and people are in need of money. Now, banks won't always talk about online attacks because it makes them vulnerable. So people should know how to protect themselves.”
Here's how you can protect your money. Look for the lock sign in your browser window. It assures a secure transaction. The address bar should begin with https not http. Misspellings and odd language are often found in scam emails. If you must go to a link from your email, type it in to the broswer so you won't be misdirected and if you still aren't sure call the banks customer service to confirm the special offer. Finally use a spam filter to get rid of all those evil emails.
Online scams are all about social engineering. The emails either threaten you, appeal to your need for money, or your willingness to help others in need. Well, don't fall for it.
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