SUBJECT:

Fraudulent E-Mails Claiming to Be From the FDIC

Summary:

E-mails fraudulently claiming to be from the FDIC are attempting to trick recipients into installing unknown software on personal computers. These e-mails falsely indicate that recipients should download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. The "insurance file" may actually be a form of spyware or malicious code and may collect personal or confidential information.

 The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission.

 Currently, the subject line of the fraudulent e-mails includes the wording "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mails state: "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets."  

The e-mails ask recipients to "visit the official FDIC website" by clicking on a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms. However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft.

Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable files provided on the Web site. 

WATCHING OUT FOR YOUR INTERESTS

BE AWARE OF PHISHING SCAMS!   Bank of Ohio County will NEVER verify any of your personal information by e-mail or by directing you to a website. Please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 270-274-5678 if you have any questions or concerns.  Steps you can take to avoid being the next victim! How Serious is the Problem? Government officials call identity theft "the fastest growing crime in the nation," with over 400,000 people affected last year alone. The average financial loss to an identity fraud victim is estimated at $36,000.00. Thieves obtain personal information such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, credit card numbers and even birth certificates and passports. Accounts are then opened in the victim's name for credit cards and loans with the mail diverted to a different address. With this approach, it could take months or years to learn that you are a victim. Pay attention to the tips listed below. How To Guard Against It  Remove mail promptly from your mailbox. Never use your mailbox for outgoing mail. Identity thieves raid mailboxes to steal credit card offers and financial statements. Guard your social security number. Do not give out personal information like PIN or credit card numbers over the phone or the internet unless you initiated the transaction. Identity thieves often call you posing as an internet provider or credit card company to gain knowledge of your accounts. Be very careful with receipts. Make sure you have them when you leave the store or ATM and do not throw them into a public trash can. Thieves use these receipts to access your accounts. Review your credit report from time to time. Each bureau will give you one free credit report per year. The major credit bureaus are:  EQUIFAX: 800-525-6285 www.equifax.com  EXPERIAN: 800-397-3742  www.experian.com  TRANS UNION: 800-680-7289 www.transunion.com  To order your credit report online visit www.annualcreditreport.com Destroy pre-approved credit card offers before you throw them out. A home shredder is the best thing to use on financial statements, receipts and old cancelled checks that you are discarding. Account for all new checkbooks when you receive them in the mail. If any are missing, report stolen checks immediately. Keep new and cancelled checks in a safe place. Block your ATM transaction with your body. Keep the keyboard from view to prevent someone from learning your personal identification number (PIN). Commit all passwords and personal identification numbers to memory. The less you have on paper, the less likely it is that someone will learn these numbers. Be creative when you select a password. Don't be obvious like using the last four digits of your social security number, phone number, address, birth date or any format that could easily be decoded by thieves. What to do if you are a victim Contact your credit card company and your financial institution and close your accounts. The FBI suggests that you put passwords (not your mother's maiden name) on any new accounts you open. Call the three major credit bureaus (numbers shown below) to tell them your identity has been stolen. Request that a "fraud alert" be placed on your file and that no new credit be granted without your approval. EQUIFAX: 800-525-6285 EXPERIAN: 800-397-3742 TRANS UNION: 800-680-7289 Call the Social Security Fraud Hotline: 800-269-0271 Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) theft hotline:1-877-438-4338 http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ You should not only file a report with the police, but also get a copy of the report in case you need proof of the crime later for credit card companies, etc. If your checks are used fraudulently: CHECKWRITE: 800-766-2748 CHEXSYSTEMS: 800-428-9623 EQUIFAX: 800-437-5120 NATIONAL PROCESSING COMPANY: 800-526-5380 SCAN: 800-526-5380 TELECHECK: 800-710-9898

FDIC Makes Available on Its Web Site New Government-Wide Id Theft Home Page FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2007 The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), a participant in the government-wide Identity Theft Task Force, will provide a direct link to the new, centralized government Web site on identity theft. The new site, www.idtheft.gov, was launched today. Initially, the site will provide the Task Force's Strategic Plan. The Plan, which represents the input of 17 Federal agencies, including the FDIC, sets out recommendations to prevent identity theft, to assist identity theft victims in recovering from those crimes, and to prosecute and punish identity theft-related criminals. The Plan will be made public today. The taskforce was created on May 10, 2006, by Executive Order to strengthen Federal efforts to protect against identity theft.