Alert: Incorrect emails about bank details and salary transfers

This situation is unfortunately a reality in the world of cybercrime, where fraudsters pose as employees and use fake emails to try to redirect payroll payments to their accounts. This article explains how such fraud attempts work, how criminals obtain the necessary information and, above all, how you can effectively protect yourself and your company.

The scam: fake emails

The scam is sophisticated: Fraudsters send emails to human resources departments that appear to come from employees, asking them to change their bank details for salary transfers. By cleverly manipulating the employee's name and email address, these emails often look deceptively real. If you fall for this, your salary will end up nowhere - or more precisely, in the pockets of the criminals.

This is how fraudsters get your data: social engineering

But how do fraudsters get the information they need to make their deception seem credible? The answer lies in so-called social engineering. This is a method in which information is obtained through clever manipulation and deception. Criminals use everything from phishing emails to research on LinkedIn and other social media to information on the company website.

Prevention and protective measures

The most important thing is to arm yourself and your team.

• Train your employees in cybersecurity and familiarize them with the most common fraud methods.
• Set clear rules for changing employee data.
• Always confirm such changes via a separate communication channel.
• If you have suspicious inquiries, always seek direct contact with the person concerned, be it by telephone or via a separate email.

Phishing simulations: learn while playing

Phishing simulations, such as those from our cooperation partner Watchlist Internet . These simulate fraudulent emails in a secure environment and help employees recognize signs of attempted fraud and respond appropriately.

Conclusion

The threat of fake email requests to change bank details is real and can hit businesses hard. However, you can protect yourself effectively through education, clear communication rules and training measures such as phishing simulations. It is important to remain vigilant and ask questions at the slightest uncertainty.

Source: Watchlist Internet

If you want to learn more about this important topic and receive regular updates on current scams and protection measures, subscribe to the Mimikama newsletter . Also discover our media education offerings , which will help you move safely in the digital world. Stay informed, stay safe!

You might also be interested in:
HypoVereinsbank Warning: Phishing email exposed
Warning: Fraudulent emails in the name of Online Finanzamt Elster
Warning of fake police emails