The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation warned Tuesday that fraudulent emails are trying to trick recipients into downloading malware by pretending to be a notice from the FDIC about a bank closure.
The subject line of the bogus email urges recipients to check their bank deposit insurance coverage, the FDIC said in its alert. The body of the email warns that the FDIC has named the recipient's bank as a "failed bank" and is taking control of its assets. The email instructs recipients to check their deposit insurance coverage by downloading a "personal FDIC insurance file," and includes a hyperlink that appears to be related to the FDIC but directs users to a fraudulent Web site with what appears to be links to forms.
"However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable file to be downloaded," the FDIC said, warning that the emails should be considered a malicious attempt to steal confidential information in order to break into online bank accounts or perpetrate identity theft.
The FDIC said it is working with U.S. CERT to determine the exact effects of the executable file in the email.
The FDIC maintains a list of
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Michael S. Mimoso, Editorial Director
bank closures on its website. The agency has closed more than 100 banks so far this year.