NOW READ THIS
("Security Advisory")
Submitted by: Bill Hickey
NCVA List Master
NRT-0370 International Cyber-Gang Hits Texas Bank:
An international gang of cyber criminals has hacked into Fort
Worth, Texas-based OmniAmerican Bank. The reportedly stole scores of account
numbers, created new personal identification numbers, fabricated debit cards,
then withdrew cash from ATMs in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, as
well as in Britain, Canada, and New York. "It was a pretty sophisticated
scheme," said bank president Tim Carter, who described the amount stolen as
"minimal." Fewer than 100 accounts, some of them dormant, were
compromised, all with a daily withdrawal limit of less than $1,000, he said.
After discovering the fraudulent activity on 18JAN, the bank placed temporary
limits on some ATM and debit-card transactions and suspendes some electronic
banking services, Carter said, adding that the bank is issuing approximately
40,000 new debit cards as a safeguard against future fraudulent activity. The
bank learned of the breach from customers inquiring about unusual activity in
their accounts, from internal monitoring, and from a law enforcement agency that
Carter declined to name. According to computer security firm McAfee, this type
of cyber attack has become "a commonplace occurrence," although some
banks are reluctant to admit that their security has been breached.
(www.sacbee.com 25JAN08)