Hsbc Scam

[wiltsman]

I've just received the following scam email purported to have been sent by HSBC. We all get this sort of thing regularly, but I've got to say they are starting to look more professional. The original email looks very good, reasonably well written, well presented, with no spelling mistakes.

The other reason I knew it was a scam was because ........... I don't have an HSBC account!

I wonder how many of these emails are acted upon by gullible members of the public? I do note that HSBC, like all other banks, state on their website, that they will never ask for personal security details via email.

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Action Required

In a world that's more advanced than ever, there's an even greater need for online security. HSBC Safeguard is a series of protocols that safeguard your valuable money and savings from financial crime and online fraud. To allow it to protect you and your money from any online danger, we are required to update it time by time with the latest customer record so that accurate actions can be taken in the time of need. We have temporarily disabled your online and physical services until you complete your HSBC Safeguard action.

Please click on "Update now" button below to continue your HSBC Safeguard protection by updating it to latest record.

Update now

Please note: If any account fails to update the details within 24 hours, HSBC Safeguard will consider it as a security breach and account will be temporarily locked down.

Thank you,
HSBC.
HSBC Bank plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
8 Canada Square, London E14 5HQ. HSBC Bank plc's registered VAT Number is GB 365684514.

[EDDIE51]

Yes one of the better ones! (Unfortunately)
Luckily I have the much maligned original 'hotmail' but the spam filters on it are perfect so far , never had anything like this get past them in over 10 years.

[Peter Pedant]

yes excellent

the only thing I can spot is [final sentence] Number is in full and no one does that - - - VAT no and the 'is' is not English.

thanks - I dont internet bank having been cloned ( more than once)
but this sortof thing makes my blood run cold ....
Paper banking but by god they make you pay

[Baldric]

May have been better placed in 'Spam & Scams' Topic

[THECORBYLOON]

PP, looking at HSBC products, they do refer to "registered VAT Number" but I doubt they would write "time by time" rather than "time to time" or "and account" without a "the" but it is one of the better attempts.

[Gromit]

'Locked down' is rather American English too.

[jno]

not bad... you're right that most scams can be spotted because of their execrable English (of course you might think the same about some of my posts), and this one suggests they're actually getting in an English speaker to edit them. Which is bad news.

[wiltsman]

Baldric - Yes, you're right that I should have placed it in 'Spam & Scams.

Thank you for all your comments. One would have hoped that by now, no one should be falling for this type of scam, but obviously they are or we still wouldn't be seeing this sort of thing regularly in our inboxes.

[ubasses]

Might be a good idea to forward it to [email protected].
Not sure what they do about it, but they do like to know.

[wiltsman]

Thanks ubasses.