Fraudsters continue sending SMS messages claimed to come from the bank

SEB Bank has again received information about SMS messages supposedly sent in the name of the bank to the citizens of Lithuania indicating a link leading to a fake Internet Bank website.

‘Fraud which includes SMS messaging claimed to come from a bank (SMS has been sent from another platform than the SEB SMS platform) is a fairly new fraud method in Lithuania but quite common in Europe. So far, in Lithuania we have been aware of phone fraudsters or fake e. mail sender attempts to coax customer log-in data for access to the Internet Bank system and to execute illegal money transfers. Whereas SMS message is displayed in the standard field of communication with the bank and next to the previous messages, i.e. in the flow of messages actually sent by the bank, its recipient may believe that the message is from the bank. However, the bank dos not send any SMS messages indicating the active link to the Internet Bank’, says Audrius Šapola, Head of the Prevention Department of SEB Bank.

In such cases, the bank always assists its customers, who incurred loss to recover their funds if the possibility exists, and immediately stops the payment executed by fraudsters, contacts the beneficiary’s bank and also the payment service provider and requests a refund, cooperates with the police, etc. However, if funds are credited to the beneficiary’s account, it may be rather difficult to recover funds.

The number of such social engineering attacks when the consumers deceived by fraudsters disclose their personal and financial data will only increase. Fraudsters are using more and more sophisticated ways of deceit to achieve their aims, therefore, people should be watchful and attentive.  We advise to refrain from clicking and opening any link sent in an SMS and after opening the website to check the browser address field, aiming to make sure that it is the bank’s official website. To log in to the Internet Bank, we recommend entering its address https://e.seb.lt/ in the browser address field:  In addition to the above, you need to remember that your  PIN code should be entered only in such case if you initiate the transaction’, says Audrius Šapola, Head of the Prevention Department of SEB Bank.

In case of any doubt about a message received, SEB Bank customers may contact SEB Bank anytime 24 hours a day and enquire by phone: +370 5 268 2800 or Skype: SEB.Lietuvoje.