FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME CONTINUES - BANK STAFF SECONDED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH A NEW TEAM AT THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH TECH CRIME CENTRE

This collaboration will see five bank staff seconded to the AHTCC in Canberra to provide analytical assistance to police. Police will then use this information to identify and prosecute criminals who are engaged in all types of online fraud incidents related to the banking sector.

The team is one element of a new National Response Plan developed by the Australian Bankers’ Association’s Fraud Taskforce and the AHTCC.

The National Response Plan is a protocol which formalises the response to cybercrime including:

• How organisations report incidents and work cooperatively with the AHTCC
• Information sharing between organisations on online fraud issues within the bounds of the law
• How police can quickly and effectively contact businesses such as banks, telecommunications companies and internet service providers to progress investigations and protect consumers

David Bell, Chief Executive of the Australian Bankers’ Association, said: “The banking industry has been concerned with ghost websites, phishing (email scams) and Trojans[1] which have targeted customers who use online banking.

“The banks are looking forward to working with police to provide additional analytical resources to help them with their investigation and prosecution of criminals who try to defraud bank customers and others.”

“Customer security remains the number one priority for banks when offering online banking as all banks offer top level encryption and intricate firewalls. In addition, banks have been providing customer advice and guidance; online, over the telephone, through the media and via advertising on how consumers can protect themselves against online fraud perpetrated by criminals.

“At the same time, all users of the Internet have a responsibility to protect themselves against Internet crime, by installing the latest anti-virus protection software and updating it regularly. Without this defence, anyone conducting e-commerce is vulnerable to attack.”

Five bank staff will be seconded to the AHTCC from ANZ, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank Limited, St George Bank Limited and Westpac Banking Corporation for periods of up to one year. They will report directly to the AHTCC, will be supervised by police officers and all analytical work will be conducted within the law.

Advice to Customers:

The ABA and banks repeat their advice to customers regarding ghost websites, phishing and Trojans:

• Avoid opening unsolicited emails. Instead, delete them from the menu, then permanently delete from your ‘deleted items’ folder;
• Never click on a link in a email which sends you to a bank’s website;
• Never log on to Internet banking other than by typing the address into your browser – never use a link in an email;
• If you do not have anti-virus software, we recommend you obtain anti-virus protection, run it and maintain it or use one of the many free tools available on the Internet;
• Use a personal firewall to prevent viruses from downloading onto your system or launching attacks against other Internet user’s systems;
• Do not run any software program unless you are certain of origin and function;
• If you are concerned you have been affected by an email scam or Trojan, please contact your bank immediately and change your Internet banking password.

Customers who bank online should be aware of the following criminal attempts:

1.      Emails purporting to be from a bank and asking for confidential information;

2.      Emails asking customers to be an sales agent for a good or service, with the promise of commissions delivered to your bank account;

3.      Emails which ask customers to click on a link which sends them to a fake bank website (ghost website);

4.      Trojans - a computer program which conceals hidden programming which infects computers and are used by criminals to spy on or destroy other people's data.

Through these fraudulent means, criminals can get access to your confidential online banking logon and password information which can then be used to defraud your accounts.

For further information:

Heather Wellard

ABA Public Relations

Phone: 02 8298 0411

Mobile: 0409 830 439

ENDS