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New Yorkers hand over personal details to Microsoft's fake bank

Microsoft has set up a fake bank branch in New York and tricked members of the public into handing over huge amounts of personal information.

The tech giant built its Greater Offshore Bank & Trust branch in a bid to demonstrate how vulnerable people are to scams and promote Internet Explorer 8, which it says blocks three million online threats a day.

In two videos posted on YouTube, actors playing bank staff members convince members of the public to reveal highly sensitive information in order to open accounts and receive $500.

Duped "customers" were willing to hand over their mothers' maiden names, social security numbers, credit card numbers, strands of hair for DNA tests and details on whether they wear boxers or briefs.

Related Companies

Microsoft Financial Services

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Retail banking Security

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Branch banking

Editorial | what does this mean?

This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community.

Comments: (1)

A Finextra member 14 July, 2010, 16:10

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So ...

tell me again.

Why are we all being forced to implement all this PCI:DSS nonsense if the Yankee Doodles it's designed (and I use that term very loosely) to protect appear to see no problem in giving their sensitive data away to Honest Bill's Banking Emporium on the off chance of a couple of quid in the back pocket?

The payment world has gone mad!