Consumer Alert – August 15, 2006
FDIC Special Alert: Consumer Alert – Fraudulent E-Mail Claims to Be From the FDIC
The FDIC is aware of a phishing e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The name "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation" appears on the "From" line and the subject is, "IMPORTANT: Notification of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation."
This e-mail claims that the FDIC has received an application from the receipt's bank to insure their checking or savings account against fraud, phishing and identity theft. The e-mail further instructs the recipient to enroll in "the FDIC protection system" by clicking on a link to a spoofed FDIC Web page. The spoofed Web page requests the following information:
First Name, Last Name, Phone Number, Social Security Number, Mother's Maiden Name, Driver License/Issued State, Date of Birth, E-mail Address, Street Address, City, State, Zip/Postal Code, Name on Credit Card, Credit/Debit/ATM Card Number, Card Expiration Date, Card Verification Number, Personal Identification Number, FDIC-Insured Institution (Bank Name), Bank Routing Number, and Bank Account Number.
This e-mail was not sent by the FDIC and is a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information from consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mail and should NOT under any circumstances provide any personal information through this media.
The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and the location of the Web site in order to disrupt the transmission. Until this is achieved, consumers are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.gov
Don't Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and has ranked as one of the top consumer concerns for the past several years. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has produced a multimedia presentation to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft. The presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft.
Don't Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
FDIC Alerts Customers of Potential E-Mail Fraud
April 22, 2004 - The FDIC issued a special alert on Fraudulent e-mails being sent to bank customers. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corportation (FDIC) is receiving complaints from consumers who received an e-mail presenting the recipients with an opportunity to secure their credit cards against fraud and to apply to be a part of a secure online network launched by the FDIC in collaboration with various credit card providers. By accessing an embedded link, the email claims that the recipient can sign up for a free trial membership, which provides shopping coupons for some of the more popular online retail outlets.
If consumers have received this or similar suspicious e-mails, they should report information to the FDIC at alert@fdic.gov.
For more information and to access the FDIC’s alert, click here: http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2005/index.html.
