PETALING JAYA: Banks will introduce a new layer of security as they work closely with cyber security authorities and the police to combat the proliferation of online fraud.
Cybersecurity Malaysia said fraud cases reported to the agency had doubled from 606 in 2009 to 1,328 in 2010 and 3,142 last year.
“As of April this year, we received nearly 2,000 cases of online banking fraud,” said its CEO Lt Col (Ret) Prof Datuk Husin Jazri, who confirmed that the agency was joining forces with the Association of Banks Malaysia to combat Internet scams.
The agency, under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, will work with banks to carry out an intensive campaign to raise awareness of the scams.
The matter has become so serious that CIMB and Maybank recently made a concerted effort to warn of online banking scams by taking a full page advertisement in The Star, urging their customers to report immediately if they received a TAC (Transaction Authorisation Code) which had not been requested.
The TAC, which is sent by SMS to the registered mobile phone of the user, is the second layer of security. The first is the login credentials the username and password.
According to Macro Kiosk Bhd, the mobile service provider for 16 local banks, financial institutions might adopt a “third layer” of security for their online systems soon.
The “Third Factor Authentication” feature will detect attempts to hack into online banking accounts based on the location of the user's mobile.
“It will allow banks to detect the location of the computer used to log into the account and match it with the location of the user's mobile phone.
“For example, if the person accessing the account is found to be outside Malaysia, while the user's mobile phone is in this country, it is likely that something is not right,” said Macro Kiosk CEO Kenny Goh.
The user would then be sent an SMS to confirm if they wanted to continue with the transaction.
“This will alert the user if someone is trying to hack into his or her online banking account.”
PETALING JAYA: It is not always greed or ignorance that leads people to become victims of online scams. Sometimes, a hectic schedule could be the cause.
“Due to our busy schedules, we tend to overlook or forget to be wary of online fraud ... until it happens to us,” said Cybersecurity Malaysia CEO Lt Col (Ret) Prof Datuk Husin Jazri.
He related an incident involving a professional who ended up losing all the money in his bank account within minutes.
“He was about to go out for a meeting when he decided to quickly check his e-mail before leaving the office.
“He then saw one supposedly from his bank asking him to click on a link to update his account details.
“As he was in a hurry, he clicked on the link without much thought and followed the instructions as he was eager to proceed to his meeting.
“It was only much later that he remembered what he had done with the e-mail.
“Suddenly, it occurred to him that it was a hoax because he had heard about such a scam before.”
Husin said that although the victim contacted the agency, it was already too late.
He said Cybersecurity Malaysia had a two-minute video on how to avoid becoming a victim of banking scams that could be downloaded for free from its website http://www.cybersafe.my/video/banking/Banking.wmv.
He said scammers were always “up-to-date” and took advantage of the latest banking trends and offers.
“When a bank launches a mobile banking service, the scammer will also launch a new trick to cheat mobile banking users.
“This year, several new malware known as mobile banking trojans that mimic mobile banking applications have emerged,” he said.
He advised users to pay close attention to security messages posted on online banking websites.
“These initiatives are to help you, they are for your benefit,” said Husin
GEORGE TOWN: Two civil servants were nabbed for their alleged involvement in a ‘Macau-scam’ where the victims were cheated of millions of ringgit here.
Both of them were among three people arrested by the police on the mainland.
Penang Commercial Crime Department chief Asst Comm Roslee Chik said the suspects, in their 20s and 30s, had allowed the syndicate members to use their bank accounts for ‘illicit’ money to be deposited.
He said initial investigations showed that the suspects were given commissions by the syndicate for leasing out their accounts.
ACP Roslee said the syndicate members would impersonate personnel from the Home Ministry, Bukit Aman and Bank Negara.
“They use the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, to replicate phone numbers of the police, Bank Negara and other government agencies to call family members of those implicated in criminal activities overseas.
“The family members would then be told to transfer their money into an account given by the syndicate members, so that the family would not have their assets or bank accounts frozen by the authorities,” he said yesterday.
ACP Roslee said during a press conference at the state police headquarters here that police were still tracking the mastermind behind the scam.
He also said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He added that police were looking for Nazarime Siran, 29, to help in investigation into cheating cases involving the sale of second-hand cars.
Cybersecurity Malaysia said fraud cases reported to the agency had doubled from 606 in 2009 to 1,328 in 2010 and 3,142 last year.
“As of April this year, we received nearly 2,000 cases of online banking fraud,” said its CEO Lt Col (Ret) Prof Datuk Husin Jazri, who confirmed that the agency was joining forces with the Association of Banks Malaysia to combat Internet scams.
Going the extra mile: A third layer of security is to be adopted for online systems soon.
The matter has become so serious that CIMB and Maybank recently made a concerted effort to warn of online banking scams by taking a full page advertisement in The Star, urging their customers to report immediately if they received a TAC (Transaction Authorisation Code) which had not been requested.
The TAC, which is sent by SMS to the registered mobile phone of the user, is the second layer of security. The first is the login credentials the username and password.
According to Macro Kiosk Bhd, the mobile service provider for 16 local banks, financial institutions might adopt a “third layer” of security for their online systems soon.
The “Third Factor Authentication” feature will detect attempts to hack into online banking accounts based on the location of the user's mobile.
“It will allow banks to detect the location of the computer used to log into the account and match it with the location of the user's mobile phone.
“For example, if the person accessing the account is found to be outside Malaysia, while the user's mobile phone is in this country, it is likely that something is not right,” said Macro Kiosk CEO Kenny Goh.
The user would then be sent an SMS to confirm if they wanted to continue with the transaction.
“This will alert the user if someone is trying to hack into his or her online banking account.”
By P. ARUNA aruna@thestar.com.my
Hectic lives can lead to carelessness, says cyber cop
PETALING JAYA: It is not always greed or ignorance that leads people to become victims of online scams. Sometimes, a hectic schedule could be the cause.
“Due to our busy schedules, we tend to overlook or forget to be wary of online fraud ... until it happens to us,” said Cybersecurity Malaysia CEO Lt Col (Ret) Prof Datuk Husin Jazri.
He related an incident involving a professional who ended up losing all the money in his bank account within minutes.
“He was about to go out for a meeting when he decided to quickly check his e-mail before leaving the office.
“He then saw one supposedly from his bank asking him to click on a link to update his account details.
“As he was in a hurry, he clicked on the link without much thought and followed the instructions as he was eager to proceed to his meeting.
“It was only much later that he remembered what he had done with the e-mail.
“Suddenly, it occurred to him that it was a hoax because he had heard about such a scam before.”
Husin said that although the victim contacted the agency, it was already too late.
He said Cybersecurity Malaysia had a two-minute video on how to avoid becoming a victim of banking scams that could be downloaded for free from its website http://www.cybersafe.my/video/banking/Banking.wmv.
He said scammers were always “up-to-date” and took advantage of the latest banking trends and offers.
“When a bank launches a mobile banking service, the scammer will also launch a new trick to cheat mobile banking users.
“This year, several new malware known as mobile banking trojans that mimic mobile banking applications have emerged,” he said.
He advised users to pay close attention to security messages posted on online banking websites.
“These initiatives are to help you, they are for your benefit,” said Husin
It doesn’t pay to lease your bank account to scammers
GEORGE TOWN: Two civil servants were nabbed for their alleged involvement in a ‘Macau-scam’ where the victims were cheated of millions of ringgit here.
Both of them were among three people arrested by the police on the mainland.
Penang Commercial Crime Department chief Asst Comm Roslee Chik said the suspects, in their 20s and 30s, had allowed the syndicate members to use their bank accounts for ‘illicit’ money to be deposited.
He said initial investigations showed that the suspects were given commissions by the syndicate for leasing out their accounts.
ACP Roslee said the syndicate members would impersonate personnel from the Home Ministry, Bukit Aman and Bank Negara.
“They use the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, to replicate phone numbers of the police, Bank Negara and other government agencies to call family members of those implicated in criminal activities overseas.
“The family members would then be told to transfer their money into an account given by the syndicate members, so that the family would not have their assets or bank accounts frozen by the authorities,” he said yesterday.
ACP Roslee said during a press conference at the state police headquarters here that police were still tracking the mastermind behind the scam.
He also said the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
He added that police were looking for Nazarime Siran, 29, to help in investigation into cheating cases involving the sale of second-hand cars.
