The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s (NFIB) Proactive Intelligence Team says that it has become aware of customer services and banking hall staff in retail bank branches being befriended and “groomed” by fraudsters over long periods of time, to access to personal account data. After being identified by fraudsters, staff are being monitored during their days off and then befriended over a long time.
An former bank employee and now convicted fraudster who is serving a prison sentence, has told the NFIB’s Proactive Intelligence Team how he was groomed into giving out customer information. The man said: “I used to see them at my local market and they would come up to me and start chatting. It’s quite unusual for people to start chatting to you but because of the job we do I guess we are outgoing and approachable. They were nice people. I had no idea they were fraudsters. This went on for a few months before they asked me to do anything. They were really clever and over time they got to know more about me personally.”
Typically the fraudsters look to exploit the staff member by either offering a financial lump sum for the account information but also by exploiting disgruntled or unhappy staff. The information they require from the staff member is usually customer profile information such as birthdays and maiden names. The fraudsters already have the account number details.
The ex-employee told the NFIB: “I had worked for the bank for a few years and maybe I was a bit demoralised. That’s no excuse but I think that over time the fraudsters knew this and tried to exploit me. I think that if the awareness training around this was more robust and “streetwise” then this could be avoided and I wouldn’t be in prison. I had no idea that I could go to jail for this. I don’t think people realise how serious fraud by abuse of position is. If more people knew that they could go to jail for a couple of years then staff might think twice about getting involved.”
Police say that if you believe you are being groomed by a fraudster, let your employer know; and call 101.
