A National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) campaign to shut down the websites, email addresses and telephone numbers fuelling much of UK fraud has already stopped at least ยฌยฃ7 million being lost to fraudsters in the last two months, the London-based bureau says….
During September and October the NFIB suspended 12 websites, 179 telephone numbers and 155 email accounts, which were enabling organised crime gangs to target and steal from individuals and the public and private sector.
The threat of personal information being stolen through phishing e-mails is now being tackled in partnership with UK Payments Administration (UKPA). 978 emails have been passed to the UKPA-run www.banksafeonline.org.uk, for suspension.
NFIB analysis has shown how fraudsters can be resilient, with the ability to quickly reinvent their criminal operation.
In recent months the NFIB has identified fraudsters who are reproducing suspended websites with a similar sounding name and/or signing up for new phone numbers with a different provider. The public is told this has been done for โรรฒtechnical reasonsโรรด. The NFIB has moved to block this new line of attack.
People who visit certain suspended websites are now being automatically redirected to an alert page on the NFIB website. This provides users with a fraud warning and directs people who believe they have been a victim of fraud to Action Fraud. For legal reasons some ISPs have not been able to comply with the redirection but overall the system is making a positive impact.
Visit www.saltzmankramer.com to see how the NFIB is unmasking the criminal practices of online fraudsters. The NFIB is taking a similar approach with phone numbers. Once a number is identified as part of a fraudulent operation, the NFIB looks to suspend the line and leave a message to callers explaining exactly why, along with details on how to contact Action Fraud. The aim is to stop the same victim being repeatedly conned and to protect any new, prospective victims.
