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Alert 2004-2 | January 23, 2004

Fictitious Emails: Fictitious Emails to Financial Institution Customers

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel and Examining Personnel

On January 23, 2004, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) began receiving complaints from consumers who received an email that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC and OCC. The email falsely states that the Director of the Department of Homeland Security has advised the FDIC to suspend all deposit insurance on the email recipient’s bank account due to suspected violations of the USA PATRIOT Act. The email further falsely states that deposit insurance will be suspended until personal identity, including bank account information, can be verified.

This email was not sent by the FDIC or the OCC 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 provide any personal information to the sender of the email.

Please report these fraudulent practices by going to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center Website at: http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp and follow the instructions for filing a complaint. In addition, the FDIC has asked that copies be sent to: alert@fdic.gov.

Any additional information that you may have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Enforcement & Compliance Division,
MS 8-10
250 E Street, SW,
Washington, DC 20219
Fax: (202) 874-5301
Internet: http://www.occ.treas.gov
Email: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov

Brian C. McCormally Director,
Enforcement & Compliance Division

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