Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / BUSINESS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

Friday, 5 November, 2004, 15:13 GMT

Q&A: Safe online banking

A hand on a keyboard

A security loophole at internet bank Cahoot briefly allowed customers to access other people's accounts.

This latest security glitch has raised questions about the safety of internet banking. How can you protect yourself online?

Should I be worried about internet banking?

No. The security breach at Cahoot may cause alarm, but internet banking is here to stay and relatively safe.

You probably have more chance of being defrauded when you hand over your bank details or credit card details over the telephone or in a restaurant than you will by banking online.

Banking over the net has surged in popularity in recent years because it is so convenient.

An estimated 12 million Britons now use it as a way of managing their financial affairs: it is here to stay.

How can I keep my banking details secure?

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself.

Even when your financial services provider gets its website security wrong, taking these precautions could make it harder for fraudsters to clean out your bank account.

What should I do if I get an e-mail from my bank?

Log-in screen

Ignore the deluge of e-mails that allegeldy come from your bank, credit card provider or online payment system, which ask you to click on a link to go online and "reconfirm" your personal details - including pin number, password and credit card security codes.

Your bank will never ask for your log in and password by e-mail.

If you receive an e-mail asking for such details or asking you to update your details, it is likely to be a "phishing" scam.

The scams are perpetrated by fraudsters who send random e-mails to internet users asking them to update their banking details for security reasons.

But the e-mails direct users to spoof websites - at times very convincing replicas of real banking websites - to harvest the details of the banking customer's password and pin.

If customers fall for the scam, the fraudsters can gain access to their bank accounts or use them to launder money.

Always access your internet bank by typing the bank's address into your web browser and never go to a website from a link in an e-mail and enter your personal details.

If in doubt, call the bank.

What happens if I've become a victim of internet fraud?

Being defrauded online is an invasion of privacy and a hassle to sort out.

However, most banks tend to be sympathetic to consumers who are affected.

If the fraud was not your fault and you took all reasonable precautions to avoid it, banks will generally reimburse users.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Cahoot hit by web security scare (05 Nov 04 |  Business )
E-mail scam hits MBNA customers (25 Feb 04 |  Technology )
NatWest targeted by e-mail scam (09 Dec 03 |  Business )
Lloyds TSB e-mail scam alert (24 Sep 03 |  Business )
How to avoid the phishing bug (23 Jan 04 |  Technology )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
DTI 'Don't be a mug' website
Consumer Direct
UK Home Office
Cardwatch
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©