According to AIB’s Head of Financial Crime, Mary McHale, scammers are employing increasingly advanced techniques to impersonate the bank convincingly. This scam sees criminals leveraging existing text conversations to insert their malicious content, which can make the fraudulent messages appear more credible.

The bank has noticed a troubling increase in incidents involving this method, prompting urgent advisories to all its clients. AIB emphasizes the critical nature of vigilance in the face of such threats and reminds customers that the security of their banking information should be a paramount concern.

How the Scam Works

Fraudsters start by hijacking genuine banking conversation threads. This is achieved by using sophisticated software that can mimic AIB’s text message format. The scam messages often include urgent requests for sensitive information, such as banking login credentials, passcodes, or PINs, under the guise of verifying the customer’s identity or addressing a supposed security threat to their account.

Mary McHale highlighted the cunning nature of this strategy: “By inserting messages into an existing thread, the scammer gains an air of legitimacy previously hard to achieve. Customers are more likely to trust a message that appears in a thread with a history of genuine communication from their bank.”

Identifying and Avoiding the Scam

AIB has provided crucial advice for identifying these deceitful tactics. The bank will never ask customers to log into their accounts through a link provided in a text message or initiate any contact asking for sensitive personal information through insecure platforms. Customers are urged to be suspicious of any text that directs them to unknown websites or asks them to dial unfamiliar phone numbers.

“If you receive a message asking you to share your personal banking details or to log into your account through a provided link, it’s a scam,” McHale advised. She further recommends ending all communications immediately with anyone purporting to be from AIB who asks for sensitive information in this manner.

What to Do If You Suspect Fraud

AIB is committed to supporting victims of fraud on a case-by-case basis, dealing with each incident with understanding and prompt action. Customers who believe they might have fallen prey to this scam should contact the bank immediately. Additionally, reporting the incident to the Gardaí (Irish Police) can help prevent further such frauds and assist in the crackdown on financial crime.

Stay Safe: Banking Security Tips

• Always verify the authenticity of requests for sensitive information by contacting the bank directly using a verified phone number.
• Be cautious of messages that push you to act urgently or threaten account closure or suspension.
• Regularly update your banking passwords and consider enabling two-factor authentication for an added layer of security.

AIB remains dedicated to safeguarding its customers’ financial security and continues to enhance its defences against the ever-evolving threat of financial scams.

Impact on Airports and Airlines

The outage has severely affected several airports, causing extensive delays and grounding flights. Airports like Berlin’s Brandenburg and India’s major hubs in Delhi and Mumbai have resorted to manual check-ins. American Airlines, among other carriers, apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the technical difficulties​.

Business and Banking Disruptions

The outage has also impacted banking services, with users in Australia, Asia, and the UK experiencing issues. Visa card payments have been particularly affected, causing problems for both consumers and businesses. Several retail stores, including chains like Gail’s, have put up signs notifying customers of their inability to process card payments.

Broadcasting and Media Outages

Broadcasters, including Sky News, faced significant disruptions, with some going off-air temporarily. The London Stock Exchange also reported issues with its regulatory news service, further illustrating the widespread impact of this outage on critical services.

Microsoft and CrowdStrike’s Response

Microsoft has been actively working to mitigate the issues, stating that continuous improvements are being made. CrowdStrike identified problems related to its Falcon sensor, which contributed to the widespread crashes on Windows operating systems. Both companies are collaborating to resolve the situation as quickly as possible​

Global Repercussions and Expert Opinions

Experts are calling this the largest IT outage in history, likening it to the feared Y2K bug that never materialized to such an extent. The outage tracker Downdetector has been inundated with reports from affected users worldwide, highlighting the massive scale of the problem​.

As companies and services strive to restore normalcy, the global IT outage serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our increasingly digital world.