Bank Scam Email

[Barmaid]

Mr BM just received an email from his bank saying someone in Fulham had tried to access his account. Despite my telling him NOT to click on any attachments, he did. He said "the attachment won't download". I had a look at the email and it was clear as day to me that this is dodgy. Anyway, he called the bank and they told him it was not from them. Apart from the fact that I now want to kill him for not listening to me, I've told him to run virus checker and malwarebytes. Is there anything else he should do?

[magsmay]

Hi -I'm not a techie but the first thing I'd do -apart from hitting OH with nearest object -is to access my bank account and change the password and any other security info associated with it.

[Old_Geezer]

Check in for a night school "Common Sense" course ?

I think you've covered most things as far as the PC is concerned, but it depends on how paranoid one is.

After all if information has been taken one could go change all passwords and warn all banks/institutions one deals with.

Personally I'd go with cleaning the PC and just keeping an eye on thigns from there. Maybe change website passwords and the like.

[WyeDyed]

Do all of the above and I may be worth doing a system restore to a week or so ago. The problem is that the attachment could install "legitimate" software which no virus or malware checker will pick up and still leave you vulnerable.
Please give Mr BM a very hard stare from me.

[WyeDyed]

Do all of the above and IT...

[Nibble]

Can you also pass on a HaRRumph from me please, BM? ...... Silly Boy.... Very hard stare :(

[beso]

Your partner is an idiot. I would not let him use the computer online.

These scams often get you to visit a site that has a "driveby download". Without clicking anything they can install software on your computer that will log your keystrokes and take screen shots then send the information on the internet when they detect something juicy like credit card details or login passwords.

A new strain of malware is released onto the internet each second. It is quite impossible to stay ahead of what are known as zero day attacks. If your AV software doesn't know about it yet then it won't be detected.

Viruses often contain code to disable antivirus software if they have the opportunity. If your AV software was not already up to date before he visited the site then you are especially vulnerable.

Some viruses even carry their own antivirus software so they can compete effectively with other malware. I work in the industry and I have seen computers with over twenty infections.

Run your antivirus scan but also get online scans from antivirus vendors' websites. Trend Micro HouseCall is a good one.

[FredPuli43]

Is there a child lock on your computer?

[Barmaid]

Thank you all. Beso gets best answer. However, Fred gets the accolade of really making me laugh. Mr BM is an idiot, an absolute idiot. I despair.

[aelmpvw]

you let him have a bank account?

[Barmaid]

ael, I am considering just locking him in a room with some crayons.

[Nibble]

Just make sure there's no handle on the inside, and don't forget to let him out for his tea, otherwise he'll cry & through a tantrum :)

[aelmpvw]

:-)

[mikey4444]

He could try hanging his head in shame.

Actually, these scam emails are usually very convincing, so I have sympathy with anyone getting fooled by them.

[Psybbo]

Look you lot, Barmaid can call him an idiot but we can't!

[tamborine]

some scams grab & circulate all your contacts. Change your email password, warn your contacts. Any other infested emails (with unknown attachments) should be deleted.