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Funds lost in 'phishing' scam: DA's office contacted Secret Service in Internet scheme
Apr 06, 2009 (The Duncan Banner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
It was no April Fool's joke when Rick Lewis of Ringling accessed his company's online banking services and discovered $22,000 had been wire transferred from the account.
Lewis started American Oilfield Safety services about four years ago. Online banking has been a norm for operations and the account is monitored daily, he said Friday. When he discovered the breach on Wednesday, he immediately contacted District Attorney Bret Burns to report the crime.
He also said that he contacted First Bank & Trust immediately to have his online banking locked.
Susan VanBuskirk, senior vice president and senior operations officer with FB&T could not comment specifically on a possible breach, she said, "due to regulations."
"Phishing is on the rise, and is industry-wide in the banking. Consumers need to be very aware where they use their information. Be very cognizant and if they see logins where there shouldn't be, then just stop," she said Friday.
"This is the first time in our four counties that this type of crime has been reported," Burns said Friday. Burns is district attorney for District Six: Stephens, Jefferson, Grady and Caddo counties. Ringling is in eastern Jefferson County.
Lewis is concerned that if it could happen to his company, it could happen to anyone, whether they be merchants or individuals.
"The transaction happened on March 31. They made it look like payroll. They accessed our system somehow, then got into the bank's secured system, changed profiles and added a user," Lewis said. "That's two secure systems they got into." Lewis knew immediately that something wasn't right because the transfers were made to look like payroll checks and his company uses an off-site payroll company to handle those checks.
Buskirk, though while she could not confirm anything to do with Lewis' allegations, said, "All of our systems are secure. Anytime there is a customer complaint issued, it is investigated."
Lewis' company has three yards -- Ringling and Wilburton in Oklahoma, and also Pampa, Texas, with headquarters in Ringling. There area about 30 employees and high turnover does happen, he said. He knew immediately on Wednesday that his account had been breached.
Burns said he contacted the United States Secret Service for assistance and to investigate the crime.
"It's a complicated Internet scheme."
He said he received a return call from the Secret Service and it appears they will be handling the case.
"We want other merchants to be on the lookout and be sure their computer systems are secure against outside sources," Burns said.
"We have several agencies working together at the county, state and federal levels. We will do what we can to protect our merchants."
Lewis is angry that it happened.
"It's pretty scary -- it could have put us out of business. We happened to be fairly strong, and I'm thinking we will get this money back. If we have to eat this, it's going to be a big, big problem." He hopes that the company will not have to absorb the loss.
"It's like any other small business. The bottom line means a whole lot to us," he said. "If they drained you personally, that could be catastrophic for a family."
Lewis wants everyone, not just merchants, to be concerned when it comes to their online activity.
"People need to be concerned with what is going on, and if I can keep one person from being scammed, then good."
VanBuskirk said there are several things that merchants and people can do to protect their systems.
"If they are running networks and run firewalls and safety measures, that helps. There are smart hackers out there, so if it is ever suspicious, just stop."
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