21 online accounts hacked into at DBS Bank

21 online accounts hacked into at DBS Bank

Deutesche Presse-Agentur Singapore

DBS Bank, Singapore's largest, acknowledged a hacker broke into 21 online accounts and transferred amounts up to S$5,000 (US$2,700) into his own account, a spokesman said on Saturday.

The Development Bank of Singapore or DBS "was singled out by the individual as he has an account with the bank," The Straits Times quoted the spokesman as saying.

The amounts siphoned off ranged from as low as S$200 ($110). Online transfers are capped at S$5,000 a day unless customers request otherwise.

The bank, Singapore's largest with 370,000 Internet banking customers, would not say how much was involved, but stressed security was not breached.

Police declined to say if anyone has been arrested.

The bank was alerted after IT director Firdhaus Akber complained on June 19 that something was wrong with his accounts.

The bank ran a check and found that the receiving account had a very high number of transfers that day, deemed "irregular."

DBS suspended the online accounts of the 21 holders and advised the customers to make police reports. The bank has also made good the money missing.

A spokesman said online banking was safe as long as customers took precautions such as logging off after each session, keeping passwords confidential and checking accounts regularly.

They should also delete history files, avoid storing user names and PIN numbers in browsers and install the latest virus- detection software, she said.

No other similar intrusions have surfaced at other banks.