Phishing E-mail Targets Lee County Bank Customers

The Lee County Sheriff's Office in Florida (USA) has issued an alert to the residents about a newly started phishing scam hitting their inboxes.

According to the available details, the scam involves e-mails apparently arriving from the recipient's bank issuing a notification.

It (the notification) states that the Bank, trying to keep the recipient's financial account out of reach of unauthorized people, will allow no more than three unsuccessful access attempts. Subsequently, it tells him that since his account has made these three critical attempts, the bank has decided to restrict the user from accessing his account online to maintain the necessary security.

In addition, the message directs the recipient that he should download a form given as an attachment within the e-mail.

The information asked in the form is full name of the recipient, his debit/credit card number, verification number, expiration date as well as Personal Identification Number.

But the Sheriff's Office in Lee County stresses that the e-mail is neither from any bank nor any financial institution, rather it is from a scammer trying to 'phish' personal information off residents.

Hence, it recommends everyone who may have got a message stating it has come from a bank or financial institution, as in the instance mentioned, that he should call and verify about the e-mail's genuineness.

The Fraud Line of Sheriff's Office provides a number to contact its help-desk where users can report any scam or phishing e-mail.

In addition, users are recommended that they should adopt certain precautionary measures as defense against such phishing frauds and not let themselves turn into victims. First, they should regularly review their accounts via Internet banking so that any fraudulent transaction becomes noticeable more quickly. Customers can also create auto-alerts that will signal potential frauds faster.

Secondly, while doing online banking, users should be tech-savvy. They shouldn't reveal personal details like passwords, account numbers, or any other sensitive detail via e-mail.

And finally, they should install proper security software and keep it up-to-date on their PCs as a way to ward off phishing attacks against their accounts.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 2/22/2010