The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has responded to a series of complaints regarding a fraudulent e-mail being sent to consumers on a widespread basis. The e-mail, which claims to be from the FDIC, is a hoax that leads consumers to believe that their banks have “failed” and that the FDIC is now controlling their assets. Recipients of this e-mail are provided with a hyperlink to the FDIC’s “official website,” which is in fact a fraudulent site that contains phony instructions to download forms through provided links. According to the FDIC, these links may cause the launch of executable files on personal computers, which could be used to collect personal or confidential information from consumers.
The FDIC recommends that consumers beware of any e-mails they receive with the following subject lines:
• “FDIC has officially named your bank a failed bank”
• “check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage” In our continuing efforts to protect consumers from all forms of identity theft and personal information loss, ID Watchdog urges all consumers to use extreme caution when opening suspicious e-mails.
Unless you are certain of the legitimacy of the communication and the sender, never click on hyperlinks embedded in e-mails. If you are ever unsure, contact the company or entity directly through established websites or phone numbers. Also, avoid “phishing” attempts by using caution whenever you are asked to provide your personal information. If you receive an unsolicited phone call or e-mail through which you are asked to provide account numbers or other sensitive details, ask for an official toll-free number and verify the legitimacy of the organization before providing any information.
Security Bytes Blog
Beware of fraudulent “FDIC” e-mail
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has responded to a series of complaints regarding a fraudulent e-mail being sent to consumers on a widespread basis. The e-mail, which claims to be from the FDIC, is a hoax that leads consumers to believe that their banks have “failed” and that the FDIC is now controlling their assets. Recipients of this e-mail are provided with a hyperlink to the FDIC’s “official website,” which is in fact a fraudulent site that contains phony instructions to download forms through provided links. According to the FDIC, these links may cause the launch of executable files on personal computers, which could be used to collect personal or confidential information from consumers.
The FDIC recommends that consumers beware of any e-mails they receive with the following subject lines:
• “FDIC has officially named your bank a failed bank”
• “check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage” In our continuing efforts to protect consumers from all forms of identity theft and personal information loss, ID Watchdog urges all consumers to use extreme caution when opening suspicious e-mails.
Unless you are certain of the legitimacy of the communication and the sender, never click on hyperlinks embedded in e-mails. If you are ever unsure, contact the company or entity directly through established websites or phone numbers. Also, avoid “phishing” attempts by using caution whenever you are asked to provide your personal information. If you receive an unsolicited phone call or e-mail through which you are asked to provide account numbers or other sensitive details, ask for an official toll-free number and verify the legitimacy of the organization before providing any information.
For more information on the fraudulent FDIC e-mail, please visit the FDIC’s official website at http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/