Standard Bank says it is seeing a rise in \u201cspoofing\u201d scams, where fraudsters use AI-generated voices and emails to impersonate bank officials, and has urged customers to be on alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa\u2019s largest bank by assets under management said that the scams are difficult for customers to identify, as calls and emails appear to come from their bank\u2019s legitimate contact details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spoofing is a tactic where criminals impersonate trusted entities, like banks, by manipulating caller ID or email addresses to appear legitimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is then combined with vishing scams, where fraudsters call customers using what appears to be a valid Standard Bank number. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The caller mimics the tone and structure of a genuine bank interaction, often including standard security questions and disclaimers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To build trust, scammers may reference personal details such as birth dates, addresses, or account types. The information might seem harmless, but it is used to create credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The caller will then typically claim to be calling about a service offering or to validate detected suspicious activity on the customer\u2019s banking profile, including unauthorised changes to contact details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When panic sets in, they offer fake solutions such as asking customers to transfer funds to a \u201csafe\u201d account, scan a QR code, click a link or share sensitive information like OTPS or instant money voucher codes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spoofing can also be combined with phishing emails, which appear to come from legitimate emails from bank employees and replicate the bank\u2019s branding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The messages often use an urgent, threatening tone to pressure customers into acting quickly. For instance, they may claim that accounts have been flagged due to KYC or FICA compliance issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Usually embedded in these emails is malware hidden in links, attachments, icons or QR codes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clicking or scanning these elements can install harmful software on a customer\u2019s device or redirect them to legitimate-looking fake websites designed to steal personal information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The emails usually have tight deadlines, ranging from hours to a few days, to heighten anxiety and push immediate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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