Phishing, vishing and smishing

Phishing is a technique used by fraudsters to obtain sensitive information such as passwords, Internet Banking logons and debit/credit card details by sending an email or message pretending to be from a trustworthy organisation.

Be vigilant at all times

We will NEVER send you an email, text message or other communication that requires you to disclose your online banking password, card details or sensitive account information.

We'll also NEVER send you emails containing attachments pretending to be from Al Rayan Bank or Islamic Bank of Britain, IBB (our former name), or an employee of Al Rayan Bank or Islamic Bank of Britain. The attachments may contain fake documents such as forms or even viruses.

Protect yourself

Emails

You may receive emails that ask you to enter your personal information on a link provided. The website may look like the genuine site but is in fact a 'spoof', or fake, website designed to gather your personal details; this information may allow fraudsters to gain access to your account.

Text messages

Scams can be received by SMS text message. Typically you will receive a text message purporting to be from your bank or a known business requesting that you respond or follow a link to a website where you will be required to enter security or financial details (i.e. your card number and expiry date).

If you are unsure, you should call your bank or the business involved using a phone number you know to be genuine to question the validity of the message you received.

Phone calls

You should also be cautious when receiving unsolicited phone calls from people claiming to represent your bank or another business, especially where you are asked to provide information about your login credentials or card details. ‘Phishing’ is the term used for this process, where the caller’s objective for contacting you is attempting to obtain these details for their financial gain.

Don't be fooled

We may email you, call you or send you a text message from time to time, but will never ask you to disclose your Internet Banking details either through an email, text message or a website.

Vishing is when criminals attempt to obtain sensitive and personal information, such as user names, passwords and card reader codes over the telephone.

Protect yourself

Fraudsters use many techniques to obtain password and security credentials. Often a fraudster will call the victim and pretend to be the bank or a police official and ask for bank account details, card details, three-digit security numbers, PINs, online banking username and passwords or telephone banking security passwords.

Never give out any online passcodes/PINs or card details to anyone who phones you. If we phone you, we will never ask for this information

If you receive a call about your bank account a transaction or an application and have any doubts about the person’s true identity, hang up and call us on a known Al Rayan Bank telephone number

Smishing is a term used for SMS / text messages related scams, and it comes from combining ‘phishing’ and ‘SMS’. Scammers will usually send you a text message with a link and asking you to do something. It is a trick to get you to provide your personal details or download a malicious software to your mobile device via a text message.

Protect yourself

Don’t open a text message that you weren’t expecting

If the text message contains a link to click or a number to call, verify the sender before clicking or calling

Delete the text message if you're suspicious or confirm it is not from a valid sender

If you’re unsure, never give out any personal or financial information