CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The FBI has issued a warning to users of direct deposit at their workplace, urging them to be aware that hackers are now attempting to reroute direct deposit checks.
The PSA issued by the FBI notes that the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, has received complaints of cybercriminals targeting the online payroll information of employees in a multitude of industries, with education, healthcare, and commercial airway transportation being the most affected.
Offering the methodologies behind the check rerouting, the PSA reads that cybercriminals target employees through phishing emails, which can look remarkably real, and are designed to obtain one’s login credentials.
Afterwards, the credentials are used to access the employee’s payroll account and change their bank account information. Further, rules are added to the employee’s account that prevent any alert regarding the changes from being sent to the employee. Direct deposits are then changed and redirected to an account that is controlled by the cybercriminal. This account is often a prepaid card.
The FBI offers a list of recommendations to help mitigate the risk of this happening to you. It is suggested that you refrain from giving out your login credentials or any personally identifying information via email. The PSA also says to hover your cursor over any hyperlinks in emails in order to read the full URL and ensure that it is related to or associated with the company from which it purports to be.
For more details, be sure to read the full PSA.