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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

F&M Customers Warned About Scam

   Shysters are circulating yet another scam via the internet, this time targeting account holders from First Farmers and Merchants Bank, and officials are urging customers not to buy into the fraud.

   A number of F&M customers have notified bank officials of the internet fraud attempt. Under the scam, customers are dispatched email, stating that their accounts have been “temporarily suspended” due to “billing failure” or, ironically, “too many frauds.” One such email states “We are hereby notifying you that we’ve recently suffered a Ddos-Attack on one of our Internet Banking server.”

   In order to “unlock” their accounts, recipients are directed to “complete an account update” by logging into the “bank’s” system. They are instructed to click on a link and enter their account information. This information is then sent directly to the scam artists, rather than the bank.

   The emails inform recipients that once the information is received, it will take twenty-four hours, or up to three days, until their funds become available once again. They also threaten, “If you fail to provide required information your account will be automatically deleted from F&M Bank database.”

   Bank officials have issued a warning to customers to be on the alert for such scam attempts. They point out that the bank does not send emails to customers, and that individuals should never forward such personal information.

   For those who may not have recognized the emails as scams, bank officials indicate that, if you entered any type of information, you must come in and close the account in order to ensure there is no illegal tampering. The safest route, they say, is to close the account, open a new one, and have all new checks and bank cards issued.

 

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