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Remote access scams targeting businesses
According to Action Fraud reports, since June 2023 victims of remote access/banking scams have reported losses totalling over £3.8m.
Scammers will generally use the following tactic to target businesses:
- Contact the victim claiming to be a representative from their bank or from a financial services vendor used by the victim’s business.
- Convince the victim to install a piece of software that enables remote access to their computer, claiming that it’s required to install an important software update.
- At some point during the call, the victim is instructed to login to their online banking account. Once the victim has done this, the remote access software is used to blur the victim’s screen whilst the scammer makes fraudulent transactions from the victim’s account without their knowledge.
- The victim is also asked to read out a series of numbers the scammer claims they have sent to the victim’s mobile. In reality, the numbers are a one-time verification code from the victim’s bank which, if shared with the scammer, will allow them to transfer money out of the victim’s bank account.
- Some victims reported a slightly different account of how the scam was perpetrated. However, the goal of the scammers usually remains the same – to convince victims to login to their online banking account whilst the scammer has remote access to their computer.
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> Advice
Your bank will never ask you to grant them remote access to your computer or smartphone. Never install any remote access software on your device as a result of an unsolicited call, browser pop up, or text message.
The one-time verification codes sent to you by your bank to authorise transactions on your account should never be shared with anyone, not even bank employees.
If you believe your laptop, PC, tablet or phone has been infected with a virus or some other type of malware, follow the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance on recovering an infected device – https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/hacked-device-action-to-take
If you've received a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from your bank, hang up, wait a few minutes, then call your bank using the contact number on the back of your debit card, or use the contact information on their official website or app. If your business has fallen victim to fraud or cyber crime, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you are a business, charity or other organisation which is currently suffering a live cyber attack (in progress), please call 0300 123 2040 immediately.
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Avon and Somerset Police Online Safety for Women and Girls webinars, Various dates
Our colleagues in A&S Police's Cyber Protect team are holding a free webinar aimed at empowering women and girls to stay safe online. Further details and Eventbrite registration page can be found below!
Friday 6th October at 12:00
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Devon Business Show, Plymouth, 11th Oct
We're very excited to be exhibiting at this year's Devon Business Show at Plymouth Pavilions! Come along to stands 46 & 47 in the Sustainability Zone, chat to our Protect team about how we can help your organisation stay protected against cyber crime, and pick up some of our free resources!
Grab your tickets at the Devon Business Show website.
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Cornwall Business Show, Wadebridge, 12th Oct
Two expos in two days! We're delighted to say that we'll also be exhibiting at this year's Cornwall Business Show in Wadebridge! We'll be at stand 40 throughout the day to answer any and all of your burning cyber security questions.
Grab your tickets at the Cornwall Business Show website.
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FBI, Partners Dismantle Qakbot Infrastructure in Multinational Cyber Takedown
The FBI and the Justice Department announced a multinational operation to disrupt and dismantle the malware and botnet known as Qakbot.
The action, which took place in the U.S., France, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Latvia, and the United Kingdom, represents one of the largest U.S.-led disruptions of a botnet infrastructure used by cybercriminals to commit ransomware, financial fraud, and other cyber-enabled criminal activity. Read more at the FBI website.
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Lapsus$: Court finds teenagers carried out hacking spree
A court has found an 18-year-old from Oxford was a part of an international cyber-crime gang responsible for a hacking spree against major tech firms. Read more at BBC.
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