Spoof hits Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB became the latest in a long line of companies to be hit by an e-mail spoofing scam last week when a random selection of internet users was sent a request for personal information purporting to be from the bank.

The scam, which came just two weeks after Barclays was targeted in the same way, involved an e-mail sent to users routing them to a website that asked for credit and debit card information.

Lloyds TSB, which was alerted by customers who received the e-mail, contacted the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, which worked through the night with the bank to resolve the problem and close the website.

Only one customer attempted to send details to the e-mail scammers, but the card was blocked immediately and no money was taken, a Lloyds TSB spokesman said.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes on the internet, according to the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.