If you have not made this payment, you should click on a link to initiate the refund process. Attention: This email is fake and does not come from Sparkasse. Don't click on the link!

Thomas receives a notification from his bank: “A payment of €1,259.00 was made from your account on June 3rd, 2022 at 6:33 a.m. If you haven't made the payment, click on the link below." He's worried and stressed, no question. He immediately wants to fix the problem and clicks on the link. That's exactly the goal of criminals: to surprise recipients with worrying messages and lure them into rash actions.

Beware of phishing: Criminals pose as Erste Bank and Sparkasse in order to get access data and money. (Screenshot: Watchlist Internet)
Beware of phishing: Criminals pose as Erste Bank and Sparkasse in order to get access data and money. (Screenshot: Watchlist Internet)

What does the fraudulent email say?

You will be informed of a debit from your account. At first glance, the email actually looks like it comes from the savings bank. You will be asked if you have made this payment. If you weren't, you can request a refund procedure. All you have to do is click on the link.

The exact wording of the email is:

Dear customer,
Our system has detected unauthorized activity on your account!
A payment of €1,259.00 made
from your account on June 3rd, 2022 at 6:33 The payment was not sent successfully due to our blocking system.
If you are the one who made this payment, just ignore this email.
If you have not made the payment, click the link below and follow the refund procedure
Log in to your account
Kind regards

What happens when I click on the link?

Screenshot: Fake login page for Erste Bank and Sparkasse. (Watchlist Internet)
Screenshot: Fake login page for Erste Bank and Sparkasse. (Watchlist Internet)

You will be taken to a fake login page. The fake page looks very similar to the real login page! Anyone who enters the user number on the fake site will next be asked for card details. These are supposedly needed to refund the amount.

Criminals fake refunds

After entering your payment details, you will be asked to confirm the refund in your s Identity app. Attention: You are not confirming receipt of payment, but rather releasing a payment.

Remember: In the previous step, criminals stole credit card data. The criminals use these at the same moment and make a payment of 1,259 euros. A release amounting to 1,259 euros actually appears in your s Identity app. But while you believe you are receiving this money, you are actually releasing a payment!

Detect phishing emails

  • Impersonal salutation: You will only be addressed as “Dear Customer” in the email.
  • Spelling and grammatical errors: Phishing emails are usually full of errors. There are hardly any errors in this letter, but missing spaces or punctuation marks also indicate dubious writing.
  • Link: Are you particularly urged to click on a link? The alarm bells should be ringing by now!
  • Return address: Always check the sender's address. Is it the official address or a completely implausible address?

Tip:

Concerned about an email? Ask the company what this entails. You can also check many claims yourself. Log in to your account as usual and check whether the claim is correct.

I have released a payment, what can I do?

  • Payments that you approve using s Identity will not be refunded by your bank! The money is lost.
  • Criminals have your access and card details. Please contact your bank and clarify how to proceed! Most likely your card will need to be blocked.
  • Report the fraud case to fraud@s-servicecenter.at . You can find further information .

Source: Watchlist Internet

Further phishing and data theft warnings can be found HERE


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