Spoofing

In spoofing, the criminal hides who is actually sending the message. These are usually telephone numbers, which means that a call, text message or WhatsApp message appears to originate from Rabobank when that is not the case. But criminals also do this with email addresses and website links.

Website

With websites, criminals often use an address that is very similar to the genuine address, but ever so slightly different. For example, by using a zero instead of the letter ‘o’. Or a capital letter I (i) instead of the lower case letter l (L). If you read it quickly there doesn’t seem to be much wrong with ‘0pIetten’. But it actually says ‘zeropietten’.

Phone number spoofing works differently. When a criminal calls, your screen may actually display the bank’s phone number. This technique is particularly misleading because checking the displayed number will not tell you whether you are really speaking with someone from the bank.

Do not share personal information without verifying the caller, and ask critical questions. You can also hang up and call the bank yourself using a phone number you know belongs to the bank.

Spoofing does not work in reverse. If you call us using our phone number, you will reach Rabobank. Always use a Rabobank phone number you already know, preferably by calling through the Rabo App.

Spoofing can also be used in text messages. A text message may appear to come from Rabobank when it does not. This technique is particularly misleading because you cannot determine from the message alone whether Rabobank actually sent it.

Never click a link or automatically call a phone number included in the text message.

Not sure? Contact Rabobank yourself using its official phone number or through the Rabo App.

Scammers often use spoofing when they first contact you as part of another type of fraud. Examples include: