FDIC Warns of Phishing Scam E-Mail

The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) has come to know from a large number of business proprietors that they've received fake e-mails, which pose as communication from the corporation. Bankinfosecurity.com reported this on May 3, 2011.

It may be mentioned that FDIC conducts the task of keeping deposits insured in banks and other financial institutions.

States FDIC that the sender's address in the fake electronic mails is spoofed such that they seem as coming from alert@fdic.gov, using the caption, "FDIC: Your business account."

It further states that the e-mails, addressing "Business Owners," tell the recipients that the corporation has their vital bank details so they may click on a given web-link for knowing more.

Thereafter, they state that the details regarding the acquiring financial institution can be seen via the link. Also the manner in which loans and accounts of the recipient may be affected along with the way suppliers can apply for getting their dues based on the receivership is delineated.

However, the FDIC has said that it never sends uninvited e-mails to people owning business accounts or simple consumers.

Nevertheless, the e-mail scam represents still one more instance of the way phishers are honing the tactics employed i.e. by cashing in on trustworthy sources like the FDIC as well as exploiting business professionals' fears when wire-fraud incidences occur or banks repeatedly prove unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the phishing scam in question being malicious has prompted FDIC to follow certain safety measures. First, business owners should ponder as to why FDIC has dispatched an e-mail. Incase there seems to be no suitable answer then such an e-mail should be ignored or better discarded. Actually e-mail recipients mustn't under any circumstance give out their details online for, there maybe phishers waiting to grab them for own gain.

Furthermore, incase any user feels doubtful of a particular e-mail, he must notify the relevant agency such as the IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) that's a joint authority among the National White Collar Crime Center and FBI.

Eventually, a phishing assault targeting the FDIC isn't new. During February 2011, fraudulent e-mails supposedly from its 'Investors Relations Department' understandably circulated online.

Related article: FTC Reaches Million-Dollar Settlement For Spyware

» SPAMfighter News - 5/9/2011