Title: Slovenian Businesses Warned of Banking Scams after Million-Euro losses
Slovenia, 29 September 2023
Several Slovenian legal entities have fallen victim to banking scams, resulting in financial losses of over 1.4 million euros. The police have reported a rise in these cases, where fraudsters usefake emails or phone calls masquerading as bank representatives to gain access to victims’ bank accounts.
Scam methods: A closer look
- Fraudulent emails: Scammers send emails mimicking a bank’s official correspondence to the legal entities’ email addresses.
- Urgent updates: The emails claim an urgent update or upgrade of the online banking system is necessary, encouraging users to click a link provided.
- Website mimicry: By clicking the link, recipients are taken to a website that resembles their legitimate online banking interface.
- Obtaining sensitive information: After entering their credentials, scammers call the business contact person, pretending to be bank technical assistance, to obtain additional information.
- Unauthorized access: Once the necessary credentials are obtained, scammers drain the bank account and transfer funds to foreign accounts.
Spotting a phishing email
- Emails or text messages from your bank: Be aware of emails or text messages that appear to be from your bank.
- Suspicious links: Do not click any links contained in such messages.
- Suspicious websites: Be wary of suspicious-looking websites that request sensitive information, like tax numbers, telephone numbers, or one-time passwords.
Preventative measures and expert counsel
- Secure online banking: Always log into your bank’s online services using the official app or by manually entering the URL address rather than clicking on a link.
- Reporting fraud: Should you believe you’ve been scammed, gather all available evidence (emails, transaction records, phone numbers, email addresses, IP addresses) and report it to local law enforcement and your bank as soon as possible.
Additional resources
- Slovenian Computer Emergency Response Team (SI-CERT) for further information on online fraud prevention and detection.
- Resources from various Slovenian banks.