The underwriter issued a brief statement which stressed that the group had been able to thwart the attempt.

It said: “Following information released by the media, SCOR confirms that it has foiled an attempted scam over the past few days. SCOR has suffered no financial damage and the Group's information systems have not been breached in any way. The attempted scam, which was based on identity theft, was spotted immediately and all of the Group's internal detection systems performed perfectly, thereby demonstrating the efficiency of SCOR's risk management. SCOR filed proceedings with the public prosecutor in Paris yesterday, in order to alert other companies that may be affected by this new form of cyber criminality.

 

Media reports said the firm had filed a complaint with authorities in Paris against an unnamed party for fraud after the reinsurer’s data was used to try and extort money from its accountants, according to French daily newspaper Les Echos.
 

It said SCOR was one of a number of firms in the country which had been targeted with approach which asked for money to be sent to specific accounts.