23 Aug 2016

Banks warn of 'whaling' scams

2:28 pm on 23 August 2016

The Bankers' Association is warning about the dangers of email scams.

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The email scams are often written in legal language. Photo: 123rf

The scams - which are known as 'whaling scams' - involve fake emails that purport to come from a senior executive in a company.

They are often written in legal language and request payment of money.

Bankers' Association chief executive Karen Scott-Howman said she herself was the target of the scam.

She said someone had sent an email, purporting to be from her, demanding money for a payment-obligation that did not exist.

Ms Scott-Howman said she had alerted the banks to this scam because it shows no organisation or individual is immune to whaling scams.