Cybercriminals are sending out phishing Scotiabank email and text messages like the one below, which claim the recipients' accounts or funds have been frozen. Therefore, Scotiabank customers who have received email messages claiming that their accounts have been frozen or they need to update or verify their information should go directly to Scotiabank's website at www.scotiabank.com and sign into their accounts, instead of clicking on the link in the email messages. Once they have signed in, they will be notified of updates, changes or other important activities. This is one of the best protection techniques against phishing scams.
A "Scotiabank Info Alerts" Scam
Subject: Action Required: Important information / Account number 76277
From: Scotia.InfoAlerts.email76277.customer@ email.arc.nasa.gov
Date: Wed 5/3/2017 10:34 AM
Hi [email address removed],
We detected something unusual about a recent sign-in to your ScotiaBank account. To help keep you safe, we required an extra security challenge.
Sign-in details: (When and where this happened)
Country/region: Nova Scotia, Canada , IP address: 24.222.21.81 , Date: 1/4/2017 , 11:27 PM
To protect your personal information and funds we have temporarily frozen your account access.
You have 24 hours to verify your details online. After this limited period of time you would have to visit your nearest branch to unlock it.
As soon as your security details are confirmed you will be able to access your funds and account as usual. Please follow the link below:
Click here to confirm ►http://www.scotiabank.com/[email address removed]-id-762
Scotiabank Team 2017
The link in the phishing email message goes to a fake Scotiabank website. Once on the fake website, visitors will be asked to verify their Scotiabank accounts by submitting their credit card information, personal information, and account credentials. If the requested information is submitted, it will be sent to the cybercriminals behind the scam. The cybercriminal will then use the stolen information to steal their victims' money and use their accounts fraudulently.
Scotiabank customers who know or think they may have been tricked by the phishing scam are asked to contact Scotiabank immediately for help.
Remember, Scotiabank will never:
- send you unsolicited emails or text messages asking for confidential information, such as your password, PIN, access code, credit card and account numbers.
- ask you to validate or restore your account access through an email or text message.