Security Centre
Phishing
Phishing is a common technique used by fraudsters in an attempt to obtain personal and security information for the purpose of identity theft or financial gain. The fraudsters use email messages that appear to come from legitimate businesses in an attempt to fool you into supplying your personal details. Financial institutions are frequently targeted by these types of attacks.
How do Phishing emails work?
- NEVER CLICK ON A LINK/OPEN AN ATTACHMENT
- The fraudster sends you an email pretending to be from a legitimate source (e.g. AIB)
- The email contains a link or attachment and requests you to click on the link or download the attachment to complete a specific action, e.g. 're-activate your account', 'update your security details'
- When you click on the link or download the attachment you are brought to a FAKE website where you are required to input a range of personal and security details e.g. Internet Banking registration number, PAC details and codes from your code card
- Once the details are entered into this FAKE website, the fraudster has your Internet Banking details and can log into internet banking as you and transfer funds from your account
How can I prevent myself being a victim of phishing?
- BEWARE!
AIB Group NEVER send emails unless you have specifically contacted us by email - The important thing is to be suspicious of all unsolicited or unexpected emails you receive, even if they appear to originate from a trusted source.
- NEVER CLICK ON A LINK/OPEN AN ATTACHMENT in an email to log in to AIB Internet Banking
- We will never ask you to complete an action (e.g. 'reconfirm', 'validate', 'unlock') by clicking on a link in an email and visiting a website.
- NEVER GIVE AWAY CODES from your code card to anyone
Stop to think about how your bank normally communicates with you and never disclose your log in details or code card details to anyone.
If you receive a Phishing email do forward it immediately to alert@aib.ie
How to spot a phishing email
There are several steps that you can take to help you recognise and then prevent becoming a victim of phishing.
Who is the Phishing email from?
Phishing emails can look like they come from a real bank email address. Unfortunately, the way Internet email works makes it a relatively simple matter for fraudsters to create a fake entry in the "From:" box.
The below screen is an example of what a phishing email may look like:
The phishing email address that appears in the "From" field of an email is NOT a guarantee that it came from the person or organisation that it states it did. The phishing emails in the example above were not sent using AIB's own systems.
Who is the Phishing email for?
Phishing emails are sent out at random to bulk email lists and the fraudsters will almost certainly not know your real name or indeed anything else about you, and will address you in vague terms like "Dear Allied Irish Banks Customer" or "Dear Valued Customer" or "Dear Customer".
Take a closer look at the email - does it look "phishy"?
The first thing to remember is that we will NEVER contact you via email unless you have specifically contacted us by email first. Nor will we email you and ask you for your Internet Banking security codes or any other sensitive information. Phishing emails can often contain odd "spe11ings" or cApitALs in the "Subject:" box (this is an attempt to get around spam filter software), as well as grammatical and spelling errors.
Where is that hyperlink going to?
Unfortunately, it is all too possible to disguise a link's real destination, so the displayed link and anything which shows up in the status bar of your email programme can easily be falsified.
How to spot a Phishing website
What is the website address?
If you visit a website after clicking on a link from an email, there are many ways of disguising the true location of a fake website in the address bar.
The website address may start with the genuine website's domain name, but that is no guarantee that it points to the real website. Other tricks include using numerical addresses, registering a similar address (such as www.aib-verify.com), or even inserting a false address bar into the browser window.
Many of the links from these pages may appear to go to the genuine website, but don't be fooled.
Remember!
AIB NEVER send emails unless you have specifically contacted us by email
NEVER CLICK ON A LINK/OPEN AN ATTACHMENT, in an email to log in to Internet Banking
NEVER GIVE AWAY CODES from your code card to anyone
If you receive a Phishing email forward it to alert@aib.ie
Contact us -
AIB Internet Banking Users: alert@aib.ie or telephone 0818 724 724.
AIB iBusiness Banking Users: Telephone 1890 42 22 42.
First Trust Bank Users: alert@aib.ie or 028 9034 6034 (08.30 to 17.00 Mon to Fri)
Allied Irish Bank (GB): alert@aib.ie or 028 9034 6060 (08.30 to 17.00 Mon to Fri)
First Trust Bank & Allied Irish Bank (GB) iBusiness Banking 0870 2430 331 (08.30 to 17.00 Mon to Fri)