Scam Alert Dated January 23, 2004

Emails to financial institution customers that fraudulently claim to be from the FDIC, attempt to obtain highly sensitive personal information, including bank account information. These emails falsely indicate that FDIC deposit insurance is suspended until the requested customer information is provided.

Joint Release from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Federal Bureau of Investigation: At approximately 12:00 p.m. (EST) on January 23, 2004, FDIC Consumer Call Centers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington, D.C., began receiving a large number of complaints by consumers who received an email that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The email informs the recipient that Department of Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge has advised the FDIC to suspend all deposit insurance on the recipient's bank account due to suspected violations of the USA PATRIOT Act. The email further indicates that deposit insurance will be suspended until personal identity, including bank account information, can be verified.

This email 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 email and should NOT under any circumstances provide any personal information through this media.

The FDIC and the FBI are attempting to identify the source of the emails and 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.

LOSS CONTROL RECOMMENDATIONS

• Members should not access the link provided within the body of the email.
• Members should not under any circumstances provide any personal information through this media.
• If a member did respond to the email with personal information, he or she may become an identity theft victim. The member should do the following:
  • Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact the member before opening any new accounts or making any changes tohis/her existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms the members fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to the victim free of charge.
  • Close the accounts that are known or believed have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
  • Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
  • File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
  • File a complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03

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