FirstBank Warns its Customers About Phishing E-mail

The Eastern Caribbean Regional branch of FirstBank is alerting its online banking customers about a phishing e-mail capable of stealing information from accountholders.

The e-mail circulating on the Internet uses the headline "Account Status Reconfirmation from First Bank Virgin Island" and shows the sender's name as "First Bank Virgin Island Management".

The reports received so far reveal that the fake e-mail redirects the recipient to a different web page that requests the user to furnish his username, 'passcode', SSN/Tax Id and account numbers to get the online banking application.

The particular e-mail is reportedly one instance of phishing fraud that has caused disturbance among the online customers of FirstBank.

However, to avert such frauds, Vice-President and Electronic Banking Manager Terrence Lake of the Eastern Caribbean Regional branch of FirstBank asked customers to never reveal their financial or personal information via any form attached to the e-mail, as reported by Virgin Islands PLATINUM News on January 29, 2009. Lake also suggested customers not to click on links embedded in unsolicited e-mails. Similarly, users should not reveal their passwords over e-mails as legitimate financial institutions would never request a client to do such a thing, Lake told FirstBank's customers.

Moreover, the Bank as part of its own role of keeping customers secured directed end-users to forward suspicious e-mails to online@firstbankonline.com. This address is guarded against spam bots, requires JavaScript for viewing it as well as enables the institution to verify whether or not the e-mail is legitimate, as reported by FirstBank on January 29, 2009.

Additionally, the Bank further recommended that its online clients should also forward suspicious e-mail messages to FTC at uce@ftc.gov. Also, to get more information regarding the method(s) of detection, prevention and avoidance of bogus activity, the Bank's online customers could call toll-free help-line number 1-877-382-4357 or visit www.ftc.gov.

Lake concluded that maintaining the safety of its clients' information was the Bank's top priority. Moreover, although only some customers might have got the fraudulent e-mail, it was the Bank's responsibility to inform all clients about possible concerns, Lake added.

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» SPAMfighter News - 2/14/2009