In published reports during July 2014, at least three individuals in Eleuthera reported having significant amounts of money go missing from their bank accounts online, losing as much as $10,000 in one case and almost twice that in total. Police indicate that the cases are being actively investigated by the Technology Crimes Investigation Unit in New Providence.
The public is advised by authorities to be vigilant in keeping their banking information private.
Online scams and other forms of threats to gain access to persons’ private banking information are ongoing issues that the public should both take note of and take action to protect their bank accounts.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has on different occasions published the following crime prevention tip for the benefit of account holders, saying, “IF YOU RECEIVE EMAIL PURPORTEDLY FROM YOUR BANK OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ASKING YOU TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION, DO NOT RESPOND TO IT AND DO NOT PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION. THIS IS KNOWN AS PHISHING. (THIEVES CAN THEN GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT AND TRANSFER FUNDS TO OTHER ACCOUNTS LEAVING YOU CASHLESS).
IF YOU RECEIVE EMAIL OR A FRIEND REQUEST VIA FACEBOOK INVITING YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A CUSTOMER QUALITY SERVICE FOR WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM DO NOT RESPOND TO THEM. (FRAUDSTERS WILL TRANSFER MONIES TO YOUR ACCOUNT AS ABOVE AND ASK YOU TO RATE THE SERVICE BY SENDING THE MONEY TO AN INDIVIDUAL SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD. THEY THEN GET THE MONEY AND DISAPPEAR AND YOU WOULD HAVE FACILITATED IT.) REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE.”
The following is a screen capture of an example of a phishing email circulated – attempting to lure uninformed, unaware and non-vigilant people to share personal bank account information.
