Kassa reports on bank helpdesk fraud

News article
Article tags:
  • Detecting Financial Crime

On Saturday 4 December, the Dutch consumer TV programme Kassa included an item on bank helpdesk fraud, also known as spoofing. Spoofing involves criminals passing themselves off as an employee of the victim’s bank. Criminals do this by using the bank’s name and/or telephone number. They gain the victim’s trust and, by pretending to be a bank employee, talk the victim into making a payment to a supposedly secure account at their bank.

The Kassa broadcast featured ABN AMRO clients who have fallen victim to fraud. Becoming a victim of financial crime is very unpleasant and stressful for our clients, and it is deeply regrettable when it happens. ABN AMRO makes every effort to prevent financial crime. Inrecent months, for example, the bank has introduced several blocks – invisible to the client – that have again successfully prevented more fraudulent activities. We will of course continue to improve our systems, and expect to make further improvements in due course. We also take a preventative approach by helping our clients recognise fraud.

We also ask our clients to remain alert and to comply with the five security rules. These rules are also a major consideration when assessing compensation claims. One of the rules is that clients must not hand over their payment card or share their security codes (such as the PIN) with anyone else. The bank will not compensate any losses if clients fail to observe these rules. ABN AMRO and its employees will never ask a client to transfer any money. All compensation claims are carefully considered, taking all the circumstances into account.