The email message below, which appears as if they came from the National Westminster Bank (NatWest), claiming that the recipients' identity needs to be verified because of multiple logon attempts on their NatWest Online Internet Banking Account, is a phishing scam. The phishing scam is being sent by cyber-criminals to steal the recipients' NatWest usernames, passwords, personal and financial information, by attempting to trick them into clicking on a link in it which goes to a fake/phishing NatWest website.
A Sample of the "NatWest Online Account Status Notification" Phishing Scam
From: NatWest Online <secur@natwet.com>
To: Recipients <secur@natwet.com>
Sent: Thu, 13 Jul 2017 15:10
Subject: NatWest Online: Account Status Notification
Account Ownership Verification Alert
Dear Customer,
This email is sent from our NatWest Secure SSL Server to verify and confirm your identity as there has been several multiple logon attempts login into your NatWest Online Internet Banking Account from an undisclosed IP/Computer location.
You are requested to verify your membership details correctly. Verify your identity [ MyAccount Activity Verification Procedure]
Failure to confirm and rightfully verify your NatWest profile might lead to your account permanently suspended.
Copyright © 2017 NatWest Online Internet Banking.
The link in the email message goes to the fake or phishing NatWest website, which will ask the potential victims who have clicked the link to enter their NatWest's username, password, credit, personal information and other security information needed to hijack their accounts. If the potential victims enter the information requested, it will be sent to the scammers behind the fake email and phishing website. With the potential victims' information, the scammers will be able to gain access to their accounts, sell the information to the highest bidder and further scam the victims. In this case, the NatWest customers who were tricked can end up being victims of identity theft and credit card fraud.
NatWest's customers who have unknowingly clicked on the link in the email message are asked to change their passwords immediately and contact NatWest for help. Also, NatWest customers should never click on a link in an email message or anywhere else to login or sign into their online accounts. They should instead, always go directly to www.natwest.com and sign in from there. Once they have signed in they will be notified of important notifications or updates.