DANSKE Bank has created a new specialist fraud and cyber crime team to help combat the rising threat to customers from fraudsters and criminal gangs.
The eight-strong front-line team will be focused on educating its customer base and wider society about the complexity of new types of fraud.
It will also be available to engage with customers that fall victim to such attacks or who think they may be being targeted.
Vicki Hassan, the bank's head of transaction banking, said: “The new team brings together expertise in card, ATM, cheque and payment fraud, and will be led by newly appointed fraud and cyber crime manager Chris Wynne.
“Fraud and cyber crime are growing threats to our customers and our business. All banks are seeing a rise in attacks, with people tricked into revealing personal details or having their information stolen.
“Danske Bank believes it is essential for our customers to understand the risks and be able to talk directly to experts if they are targeted by a scam.”
She added: “People don’t realise the majority of fraudsters aren’t sitting in their bedrooms in Northern Ireland.
“We’ve seen payments going to China, Russia, the US and beyond in scams operated by well-resourced organised crime gangs using sophisticated social engineering techniques to exploit people’s weaknesses. It is something all of us must be wary about.”
Chris Wynne said: “Last year saw an increase in more sophisticated, but at the same time simple types of fraud. Criminals are targeting the weakest link of the fraud cycle, you and me. We will focus on being there for our customers when they need us and supporting our colleagues in their interactions with both personal and business customers.
“We also want all colleagues to be able to confidently talk about these newer types of fraud, and we want our customers to be able to recognise when all is not as it seems, and to try and stop the fraud before it happens.”
