Cybercriminals Rely on Malware to Phish Credentials of Japanese Banks’ Customers

Japanese users are warned that pieces of malware planted on their computers might be redirecting them to malicious websites designed to replicate the legitimate sites of financial institutions such as Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Japan Post Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp in an effort to steal their credentials.

Malware that takes over browsing sessions and seamlessly redirects victims to arbitrary websites is not a novelty, but it appears that in Japan it has become a serious threat.

According to Daily Yomiuri, Japanese authorities believe that the latest phishing schemes that have targeted the personal details of these banks’ customers rely on a clever piece of malware which automatically redirects users when they want to visit the genuine website.

Investigators have found that when users tried to access the site of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ from an infected computer, they were presented with an error message, after which they were directed to a webpage that asked visitors to enter their PINs and other sensitive data.

The police are trying to get to the bottom of the case. In the meantime, banks are warning their customers to beware of fake websites.