Masquerading government website, fake FDIC emails focus of warnings
December 14, 2011
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
In recent months the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) had to warn customers about “malware,” malicious software that, if downloaded, would infect and perhaps destroy hard drives.
Now the FDIC is issuing a warning about phishing emails, those pretending to be from the federal agency that are targeting business owners and asking for personal banking information. And a fraudulent website that very closely mirrors the name of a legitimate government site is also the subject of a warning.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has issued a warning about a website - “helpwithmybank.com” - that is attempt to masquerade as the legitimate website “helpwithmybank.gov” and contains potentially damaging malware. When reached, the illegitimate site redirects the user to the legitimate site “helpwithmybank.gov” in an attempt to convince users they are connecting to a legitimate site. But attempts to connect to the fake website could expose the user to harmful malware.
When it comes to the fraudulent FDIC communications, the emails are sent with addresses such as “@fdic.gov,” “insurance@fdic.gov,” “subscriptions@fdic.gov,” “alert@fdic.gov” or accounts@fdic.gov. The FDIC warned that the subject lines of the fraudulent emails read “FDIC: Your business account,” “FDIC: About your business account,” “Insurance coverage of your business account,” or a statement that is similar.
The emails begin with “Dear Business Owner,” and continue, “We have important news regarding your bank.” The letters then request the recipient to follow the instructions of a statement to “Please click here to find details.” The email communication ends by noting, “This includes information on the acquiring bank (if applicable), how your accounts and loans are affected, and how vendors can file claims against the receivership,” according to the FDIC.
The FDIC does not send unsolicited emails, and the agency warns that business owners and business account holders should know the emails are fake and are attempts to get personal and confidential banking information, or to load malicious software that can infect computers with viruses or even destroy the hard drive. The FDIC warns that receivers of the emails shouldn’t click on any link contained in the email.
