NatWest heads “phishing” league

by Gill Montia

Story link: NatWest heads “phishing” league

ClearMyMail, the company that specialises in anti-spam, anti-virus and anti-phishing protection, has published a list of the 10 financial services companies whose customers are most likely to be targeted by spam and fraud by “phishing”.

NatWest heads the list, with 41% of all “phishing” emails blocked by ClearMyMail aimed at the bank.

The emails purport to be genuine communications from NatWest and including credible logos and corporate colours.

Citibank came second, with 27% of blocked emails of this type, followed by HSBC (11%), Abbey (6%), Lloyds TSB (4%), PayPal (2%), Royal Bank of Scotland (1%), Nationwide (1%), Halifax (0.8%) and MBNA (0.5%).

Dan Field, spokesman for ClearMyMail says: “Without any email protection, UK online banking customers are at severe risk of being tricked into giving away their account details to criminal gangs.”

Adding: “The “phishing” emails are very well constructed and often look exactly like a legitimate bank message.”

NatWest has responded with the following statement: “NatWest has taken considerable steps to warn customers against responding to phishing emails, and continues to clearly advise that we will never ask for this type of personal information to be provided by email.”