


Threat Analysis: Banco BPM Phishing – Multi-Step Credential, Phone Number & OTP Harvesting
This phishing campaign impersonates Banco BPM, one of Italy’s largest banking groups. The scam uses a multi-page flow to capture the victim’s online banking credentials, phone number, and OTP (one-time password) —the two-factor authentication code. By harvesting all three, attackers can bypass security measures and gain full access to the victim’s account.
How it works:
The victim receives a phishing email, SMS, or other message claiming a security alert, account issue, or the need to verify their information. The message includes a link to the first phishing page.
Step 1 – Fake Credentials Page (First Screenshot)
The first page asks for:
- Codice postazione (Station code) / Identificativo utente (User ID)
- Password
This page captures the victim’s primary online banking credentials.
Step 2 – Fake Phone Number Page (Second Screenshot)
The second page asks for:
- Numero di telefono (Phone number)
This step is designed to capture the victim’s phone number, which is likely used to send the OTP (two-factor authentication code) via SMS. By providing the phone number, the victim enables the attacker to later request and intercept the OTP.
Step 3 – Fake OTP Page (Third Screenshot)
The third page asks for:
- OTP (One-time password)
This is the two-factor authentication code sent to the victim’s phone. When the victim enters this code, the attacker captures it and uses it to complete the login on the real Banco BPM site.
The goal:
The attacker aims to:
- Steal the victim’s Banco BPM online banking credentials (user ID and password)
- Obtain the victim’s phone number (for SIM swapping or to trigger OTP messages)
- Capture the OTP (2FA code) in real time
With all three pieces of information, the attacker can log into the victim’s real bank account and authorize fraudulent transactions.
Red flags to watch for:
- Suspicious URL: The pages are hosted on domains that are not
bancobpm.itor any official Banco BPM domain. Legitimate Banco BPM online banking is accessed through the bank’s official website. Always check the address bar. - Unsolicited login request: Banco BPM does not send emails or messages with links requiring customers to log in and provide this level of information to resolve account issues.
- Multi-step flow with phone number request: Legitimate banking logins do not ask for your phone number on a separate page during the login process. The bank already has your phone number on file.
- Outdated copyright: The footer shows “© 2000-2019,” which is outdated (the screenshots are from 2023). Legitimate bank websites typically display the current year.
- Copied content: The pages include legitimate-looking information about COVID-19 initiatives and YouBusiness Web features, copied from the real Banco BPM website. Attackers use such content to make the pages appear authentic, but its presence does not guarantee legitimacy.
- No personalization: The pages do not address the victim by name or display any account-specific information.
What to do if you encounter this:
- Do not enter your user ID, password, phone number, or OTP on these pages.
- If you are a Banco BPM customer, always access online banking by typing
bancobpm.itdirectly into your browser or by using the official Banco BPM mobile app. - If you have already entered your credentials and phone number but not the OTP, contact Banco BPM immediately to change your password and secure your account.
- If you have entered the OTP as well, the attacker may have already accessed your account. Contact Banco BPM’s fraud department immediately.
- Report the phishing pages to Banco BPM’s fraud team.
Why this scam is effective:
Banco BPM has millions of customers in Italy. The multi-step flow closely mimics legitimate banking processes where users are sometimes asked for a user ID, password, and then an OTP. The inclusion of real bank content (COVID-19 information, YouBusiness Web features) adds to the illusion of legitimacy. The separate phone number page is a clever tactic: it allows the attacker to collect the victim’s number, which can be used to trigger the real OTP from the bank while the victim waits on the fake page.
Protective measures:
- Bookmark the official Banco BPM login page and use that bookmark to access online banking—never click links in emails or messages.
- Use a password manager: It will autofill only on legitimate
bancobpm.itdomains, not on phishing sites. - Never enter your OTP on a page you reached via a link. Legitimate banks only ask for OTP codes after you have initiated a login on their official site.
- Be suspicious of any unsolicited message that creates urgency and asks you to log in to your bank account.
- Check the URL carefully: Legitimate Banco BPM domains end with
bancobpm.it. Look for misspellings, extra words, or unusual top-level domains. - If in doubt, contact Banco BPM directly using a phone number from your bank statement or the official website—never use contact information provided in a suspicious message.
















