Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: How to identify a scam

  1. #1
    Diamond Member Blurock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    4,151
    Thanks
    758
    Thanked 886 Times in 735 Posts
    Blog Entries
    7

    How to identify a scam

    How do you know that you are being scammed? What should you look for?
    When you receive unsolicited mail, NEVER open anything before checking and assuring yourself that it is legitimate.
    This is an example of a scam email.

    From Standard Bank <stdbank.ealerts@standardbank.com>

    1. look at the email address - check to see which email the business use. Google their website
    Scammers create new email addresses to look similar to the real thing. If possible check the IP address.
    2.often the email is sent to multiple recipients - why? That is an obvious pointer.
    3. Spelling and grammar mistakes. No reputable business will send you garbage.
    4. Never open attachments or download pictures without checking first

    Dear Customer,
    A payment has been made to your account. To view the details of the payment, please open the attached PDF file.

    View Payment Details

    If you have any questions or would like more information,
    email Quries@starndardbank.com
    or call our Customer Contact Centre on 0819286.
    Our consultants are available between 8am and 9pm on weekdays, and 8am and 4pm on weekends and public holidays.
    Regards,
    Standard Bank



    For any queries please call Customer Contact Centre
    0819286

    Alternatively please e-mail
    info@starndaridbank.com

    Our lines are open
    24 hours a day, 7 days a week including public holidays.
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

  2. #2
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,987
    Thanks
    55
    Thanked 93 Times in 89 Posts
    I get these all the time, it doesn't help when Standard bank are selling your personnel information to 3 rd parties

    I got behind with my bond payment last year in around July, I eventually managed to catch up at the end of last year, but this is the scam: I got behind with the payment again 2 months ago, I have a 3rd parties harassing me 24/7 with all sorts of threats. According to the statement I am R350 for 30 days , but R15267.00 for over 180 days. When I query the statement I am told the account has been handed over to a 3 rd party and Standard bank no longer want anything to do with me until the bond is paid up to date. I am being threated for the money outstanding from last year July again.

    Apparently the way it works at Standard bank, any money paid now will be used for current payments and the old outstanding amount automatically becomes the outstanding debt. So even though my bond installment was up to date at the end of last year, the old outstanding amount is now back with the 3rd party debt collector.

    Maybe someone who understands how bonds work can explain this to me.

  3. #3
    Diamond Member Blurock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Durban
    Posts
    4,151
    Thanks
    758
    Thanked 886 Times in 735 Posts
    Blog Entries
    7
    I get these all the time, it doesn't help when Standard bank are selling your personnel information to 3 rd parties
    You may be confusing the issue. This is not about the bank passing you on to a 3rd party.
    This scam is from someone pretending to be Standard bank, enticing you to open the attachment which obviously contains a virus.

    The other scam is from people pretending to be loan companies. They offer cheap loans and want you to fill out the application forms, so that hey can get your personal information. This is called phishing and should never be opened.
    Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...

  4. #4
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,987
    Thanks
    55
    Thanked 93 Times in 89 Posts
    I understand, my point is that if Standard bank didn't sell your personal info to 3 rd parties, there would be less risk of hackers gaining access to your personal information, unless of course Standard has a problem with their online security.

    Looking at it from a different angle, I suppose at any point you email your banking details to someone, you let the world know which bank you use.

    I think the easiest way to identify these scams is the spelling.

  5. #5
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by Isetech View Post
    I think the easiest way to identify these scams is the spelling.
    Not so much anymore. These scam efforts are really getting quite slick.

    There's a UCount Rewards one in particular that comes to mind where you appear to have been given a reward bonus. All you have to do is log in (with a link to a non-Standard Bank website of course) and there will be a one time password process to confirm it is you (also, of course).

    The only solid giveaway in the message is the URL you are being steered towards to log in. The language, the slogans, the images, all other contact details, the basic business model is all very much in tune with Standard Bank marketing media. The other giveaway is they come in bursts. Wait a couple of hours and you will have 3 or 4 identical messages in your inbox.

  6. #6
    Diamond Member Justloadit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Johannesburg
    Posts
    3,480
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked 695 Times in 593 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    They are getting better by now personalizing the information on the email, and your email address.

    The only way that I am able to detect that it is a scam, is that the URL shown in the email, and the link you click is not the same text, usually very long and has a an unknown name and then a dot and then the link name, which is probably a web page on the scammers web server. This can be seen by hovering your mouse over the link to click, and looking at the bottom left hand side of your screen, it will display there.

    Also usually there is an attached PDF file which is safe to open, but then they entice you to click on a link in the body of the PDF, which is the scam web address. Again hovering over the link will show the actual URL address.
    Victor - Knowledge is a blessing or a curse, your current circumstances make you decide!
    Solar pumping, Solar Geyser & Solar Security lighting solutions - www.microsolve.co.za

Similar Threads

  1. How to Identify Bad Links to Your Website?
    By lynsofia in forum Marketing Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 26-May-22, 10:38 AM
  2. How to identify dodgy COC's
    By ians in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 31-Jan-22, 11:24 AM
  3. [Question] Can someone identify this beast
    By mlpotgieter in forum Pest Control Industry Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 14-Sep-11, 03:03 PM
  4. Help Identify
    By Martinco in forum Technology Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 16-Aug-11, 09:22 PM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •