WIREDGOV

We have received reports about fraudsters sending out a range of messages purporting to be from NatWest that lead to websites harvesting personal banking information. 

Fraudsters are using specialist software which alters the sender ID on the message so that it appears as if it’s come from NatWest, adding it to any existing message threads on the recipient’s phone.

If you already bank with NatWest and had a legitimate message from them in the past this could easily catch you out. It seems to be targeting individuals regardless of whether they are customers of NatWest or not.

If you click on the link you’ll be taken to an exact replica of the NatWest website that asks for sensitive personal information including full name, address, contact details, PIN and debit card numbers. 

This is known as smishing. Smishing is when criminals pretend a message is from your bank or another organisation you trust. They will usually tell you there has been fraud on your account and will ask you to deal with it by calling a number or visiting a fake website to update your personal details.

Fraudsters are also using social engineering when text messages don’t work

Interestingly some victims have also received calls purporting to be from NatWest after receiving these scam text messages. One woman reported receiving a fake text message like the ones above that urged her to “avoid account suspension" - which she ignored. 

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