Be warned!
An “Enhanced Security Update” email supposedly coming from the UnionBank of the Philippines is making the rounds asking you to log in to your online banking account. But the moment you do so, you might lose your cash to scammers. The email is actually a phishing email designed to steal your login details in order to hack your account.
Early this morning, we received a not so professional-looking email from CUSTOMER.SERVICE@unionbankph.com asking us to go to a certain website to “restore account access.”
Don’t be fooled by the email address. We’ve received several fake emails before to know that this is a fake or a PHISHING email.
Phishing is a tactic used by unscrupulous groups or individuals meant to trick you into logging in to your accounts so that they can steal your personal information and, in some cases, your cash in your online bank accounts.
Here’s what the phishing email we received look like.
It reads:
from: UnionBank of Philippines CUSTOMER.SERVICE@unionbankph.com
date: Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 8:04 AM
subject Enhanced Security Update.!
Dear Customer,
Access To Your Account Is Currently Unavailable .
Please click the link below to restore your account access.
SECURITY RESTORE
Thank you.
Online Security
UnionBank of the Philippines
Clicking the link goes to a different website that slavishly copied the look and layout of the UnionBank login site. The fake website is at http://pastehtml.com/view/b6em3h27n.html (Don’t go to this website! This is a fake UnionBank website! We just showed it here so you will know that it is a fake Unionbank URL.)
If, unfortunately, you fell into their trap, the hackers will use your login details to access your account. Now, they can easily transfer your hard-earned money to any account of unscrupulous scammers.
You’ve been warned! Don’t get scammed!
(FYI, UnionBank’s official website is at http://www.unionbankph.com)
See also:
If you receive an email from your bank (daw) or from Paypal (daw uli) that starts in “Dear Customer” and not mentioning your real or Full name, normally thats a phishing email…
Good for UnionBank. This is the only bank I know that charge for an inter-branch withdrawal, I ask the teller para san un 200 pesos, for over the counter fee daw. amf!!!
It is common now, we are receiving an email containing website link. Sometimes the link is use for good purposes and other are use for hacking and phishing some of important information. To find out if those website is safe or not, we can easily identify it by looking and examining the website address. For a website is being secure for transaction they using a HTTPS instead of HTTP only. For more explanation you can read this How will I know if the website is secure or not for transactions?
It is common now, we are receiving an email containing website link. Sometimes the link is use for good purposes and other are use for hacking and phishing some of important information. To find out if those website is safe or not, we can easily identify it by looking and examining the website address. For a website is being secure for transaction they using a HTTPS instead of HTTP only. For more explanation you can read this How will I know if the website is secure or not for transactions?
That’s why we should always check the URL.. a single letter that’s gone missing or replaced could cost you more than what you think..
but is it okay to click the fake website url?
Sad to say but i just fell on their trap..Is it possible to track down the owner/holder of the account where my funds was transferred?
whole of the UK but of course most of our work is in London .
Sadly, there is no official Unionbank email address to which you could report phishing attempts. Most reputable banks have these so they could investigate and help authorities catch the suspects or perpetrators.