This email from Westpac Bank is a hoax and will direct your browser to a forged web page ...

Westpac Australia Bank online customers are the target of this bogus email.

The email has been constructed in HTML format while maintaining an appearance of a text only format, in order to conceal the true destination of the link provided. Using that link would actually open a web apge with the following URL - http://209.210.228.185/w/jsp.html - which resolves to Electric Lightwave in the USA.

This email represents a common format for Phishing scams involving banmking sites, and looks similar to those targeting NatWest, Lloyds TSB and Citibank to name a few (see our Librarty of Spoofs for more).

If you have received this email, please remember that it is very common for these email scams to be redistributed at a later date with only slightly different content or the same but with the fake page(s) hosted by a different provider. Also, once you have received one of these hoaxes, it is also common place to receive at least another one and usually a day or two after the first, although not necessarily from the same apparent sender.

The Spoof Email ...

Dear valued Westpac Customer!

As part of our continuing commitment to
protect your account and to reduce the instance
of fraud on our website, we are undertaking a
period review of our member accounts. You are
requested to visit our site by following the link
given below. This is required for us to continue
to offer you a safe and risk free environment to
send and receive money online, and maintain the
Westpac Experience. After verification you will be
redirected to the Westpac home page. Thank you.
https://olb.westpac.com.au

Copyright 2004 - Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141

This message is digitally signed by the Westpac server.