'Callware' spam targets ANZ Bank customers

Email asks recipients to call a Sydney phone number to restore bank account access

ANZ Banking Group customers are being warned not to open spam emails which claim access to their account has been restricted.

The emails, which are being referred to as 'callware' by Kaspersky Lab researchers, ask recipients to call a Sydney-based phone number included in the email to restore account access.

Kaspersky Lab Australia and New Zealand's technical manager, Sam Bryce-Johnson, said that the use of a telephone call to lure customers suggests that the risks of follow-up could involve a high-tariff number to drain money from callers.

“It could also be an attempt to squeeze out banking information over the phone,” he said in a statement.

An ANZ Banking Group spokesperson said it was aware of the scam and had notified the Australian Federal Police to have the automated phone message removed.

“We advise all customers to remain vigilant about these types of scams and to only contact ANZ Bank via the numbers published on our website.”

The spokesperson added that the bank has a fraud money back guaranteed for customers if they didn’t contribute to the loss and notified ANZ Bank promptly.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) customers have also been targeted by a phone scam. Callers pretend to be from the bank and claim the customer's computer has been hacked.

CBA customers are then asked by the caller if they can install TeamViewer remote access software on the computer in order to run a scan.

Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia

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Tags spamkaspersky labANZ Banking Group Ltdcallware

More about ANZ Banking GroupAustralian Federal PoliceCommonwealth Bank of AustraliaCommonwealth Bank of AustraliaFederal PoliceKasperskyKaspersky

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