E-mail Fraud

"Phishing" schemes are the unauthorized use of a company�s name and/or logo in an attempt to acquire sensitive information from unsuspecting Web and e-mail users. Phishing involves the use of seemingly legitimate e-mails and Web sites to deceive customers into disclosing sensitive personal information.

How Phishing Works

Typically, you'll receive an e-mail that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and do business with, such as a bank. In some cases, the e-mail may appear to come from a government agency, including one of the federal regulatory agencies. The e-mail will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. It may use phrases, such as "Immediate attention required," or "Please contact us immediately about your account." The e-mail will then encourage you to click on a button to go to the institution's Web site.

In a phishing scam, you could be redirected to a phony Web site that may look exactly like the real thing. Sometimes, it may be the company's actual Web site. In those cases, a pop-up window will quickly appear for the purpose of harvesting your financial information. In either case, you may be asked to update your account information or to provide information for verification purposes: your Social Security number, your account number, your password or the information you use to verify your identity when speaking to a real financial institution, such as your mother's maiden name or your place of birth.

If you provide the requested information, you may find yourself the victim of identity theft.

It is important to remember that Arizona Business Bank will never initiate a request for sensitive information via e-mail.

If you have received an e-mail you believe to be fraudulent, please contact us at 1-800-624-0102.

- How To Protect Yourself
- What To Do If You Fall Victim To Fraud