An account takeover can happen when a fraudster or computer criminal poses as a genuine customer, gains control of an account and then makes unauthorized transactions.
Any account could be taken over by fraudsters, including bank, credit card, email and other service providers.
Online banking accounts are usually taken over as a result of phishing, spyware or malware scams. This is a form of internet crime or computer crime.
Fraud has been committed if money has been lost.
If fraud has been committed, report it to Action Fraud.
See also:
Bank account fraud
Phishing
Malware
Mandate fraud