SPECIAL ALERT 11-3-06

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing to be from the FDIC asking recipients to register for a “SON” – Secure Online Network” code.  The e-mails requests that recipients click on a hyperlink to initiate “SON” registration in an attempt to acquire the recipients’ personal financial information.  These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC.  The e-mails describe a fictitious relationship between the FDIC and GoldLeaf Financial Solutions and suggest that the FDIC collaborated in the development of SON.

Another e-mail describes “a small client utility” – referred to as “ProBank” that recipients are asked to install on home and business computers.  The subject line of some of these emails include “Urgent Notification- Security Reminder”.  Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of these e-mails and should NOT under any circumstances, provide any personal financial information through this media. 

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A.S.B. Customers Receive Fraudulent Emails

It has come to our attention that some of our banking customers have received emails that appear to be from Athens State Bank, and these emails request customer account information based on the claim that someone has fraudulently accessed their account.

These email are not from Athens State Bank, but are actually part of an online fraud called phishing. Athens State Bank will never ask for your personal information, account numbers, PINs, or other security information in an email. If you receive a request for information such as this from ASB or any other online business, you should immediately suspect a fraudulent email.

Furthermore, you should never follow a link presented in an email that appears to lead to AthensStateBank.com, or indeed to any other business. Links found in emails can easily be masked to appear to take you to a legitimate web site, when instead they lead you to a fraudulent website set up to look like the site that you know. Once there, they attempt to trick you into entering your personal information so that they can attain it for fraudulent purposes. The safest way to make sure you are visiting the web site you want, is to type the web site address directly into your web browser.

If you suspect that you have received one of these fraudulent emails, or someone has otherwise tried to gain access to your personal information, please contact an ASB representative.

For more information on phishing, see the Federal Trade Communications (FTC) web site article "How Not to Get Hooked by a Phishing Scam" or a more general FTC article about online scams called "Dot Cons"

Here is the content of the fraudulent emails sent out to ASB customers recently.

From: Athens State Bank
Subject: Account Information Update (Routing Code: 6C840-L001-Q190-T1836)
To: ASB CUSTOMER EMAIL ADDRESS OMITTED


Dear Athens State Bank Member,

This email is to inform you, that we had to block your Athens State Bank account access because we have been notified that your account may have been compromised by outside parties.

Our terms and conditions you agreed to state that your account must always be under your control or those you designate at all times. We have noticed some unusual activity related to your account that indicates that other parties may have access and or control of your details in your account.

These parties have in the past been involved with money laundering, illegal drugs, terrorism and various Federal Title 18 violations.

Please follow this link to complete your security verification and unlock your CARD® check card: http://www.athensstatebank.com/internetbanking.htm

Please be aware that until we can verify your identity no further access to your account will be allowed and we will have no other liability for your account or any transactions that may have occurred as a result of your failure to reactivate your account as instructed above.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter .

Sincerely,

Athens State Bank Accounts Department.

Note: Requests for information will be initiated by our Athens State Bank Business Development Group, this process cannot be externally expedited through Customer Support

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From: mail@athensstatebank.com
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 11:38 PM
Subject: Your password has been successfully updated

Dear user ibank,

You have successfully updated the password of your Athensstatebank account.

If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with your account, please contact Athensstatebank customer service at: mail@athensstatebank.com

Thank you for using Athensstatebank!
The Athensstatebank Support Team

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From: service@athensstatebank.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 4:00 AM
Subject: Your password has been successfully updated

Dear user ibank,

You have successfully updated the password of your Athensstatebank account.

If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with your account, please contact Athensstatebank customer service at: service@athensstatebank.com

Thank you for using Athensstatebank!
The Athensstatebank Support Team

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From: admin@athensstatebank.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 3:14 AM
Subject: Security measures

Dear Athensstatebank Member,

Your e-mail account was used to send a huge amount of unsolicited spam messages during the recent week. If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and confirm the attached document so you will not run into any future problems with the online service.

If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us no choice but to cancel your membership.

Virtually yours,
The Athensstatebank Support Team

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