Fraudulent 'Phishing' E-Mail Claims to be from Lakeland Bank
| A past e-mail purporting to be sent from Lakeland Bank was identified as a 'phishing scam'. In the e-mail message, customers were asked to update their account information by clicking on a link provided in the e-mail. The link took the user to a phony site that had been reproduced with the bank website's previous graphics and layout, giving it a recognizable and legitimate appearance.
Lakeland Bank reminds its customers to use caution when responding to any e-mail requesting that personal information be updated, especially when a link to a site is included in the message.
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Lakeland Bank will never request personal information via e-mail, and we remind our customers to use some common techniques to identify 'phishing' attempts, including (a) the message is from an unknown name and/or e-mail address, (b) a link is provided that directs the user to an inconsistent website address, (c) the e-mail or website requests information that is contradictory to the service provided (such as entering credit card or other personal information), and (d) the appearance of the e-mail or site is inconsistent with the authentic website format.
For more information, please refer to the Lakeland Bank Privacy Policy, or contact us at csr@lakelandbank.com.
**IMPORTANT CHECK FRAUD SCAM**
It has been brought to our attention that Lakeland Bank customers and non-customers are receiving counterfeit checks in the mail containing Lakeland Bank’s logo, routing number and in some cases legitimate current or former Lakeland Bank account numbers. The maker claims to be 1st Capital Financial Services, but there could be other false makers. The checks are accompanied by a letter stating that the customer has won a large sum of money in a Sweepstakes. Further instructions are given to the customer regarding the negotiating of the check(s) which are generally around, but not limited to $4,000. The checks apparently cover application fees and surcharges on the winnings. Furthermore, don’t be fooled by local addresses, as the fraudsters are scanning legitimate Lakeland checks and simply changing the maker’s name. Generally the checks have the appearance of a business type or an official check. Please disregard any such checks and feel free to contact your local Lakeland Bank office if you have any questions.
**IMPORTANT PHONE SCAM NOTICE**
It has been brought to our attention that Lakeland Bank customers have been receiving phone calls from a “Marketing Firm” stating that they are contacting them on behalf of Lakeland Bank to verify account information. In some instances they have even offered the telephone recipient a gas card or airline tickets as an incentive to give them this information. THIS IS A PHONE SCAM. It is our policy to protect the privacy of all our customers. We do not hire “Marketing Firms” to inquire about customer account information. Please disregard any such phone call and feel free to contact your local Lakeland Bank office if you have any questions.
Fraudulent E-Mail Claims to be from the FDIC
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to install unknown software on personal computers. Currently, the subject line of the e-mail includes the phrase "Urgent Notification - Security Reminder." The e-mail is fraudulent and was not sent by the FDIC.
The fraudulent e-mail describes "a small client utility"—referred to as "ProBank"—that recipients are asked to install on home and business computers. The e-mail claims:
"...this utility only starts whenever an online session is opened with a Financial
Institution insured by the FDIC, thus it will never interfere with any programs installed
on your computer. Please help us combat fraud by installing, ProBank on any computer that is used to open an Online Banking session."
The e-mail requests that recipients click on a hyperlink that appears to be related to the FDIC, which directs recipients to an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or to conduct identity theft.
Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link or download the executable file provided within the body of the e-mail.
Don’t be an Online Victim: How to Guard Against
Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and has ranked as one of the top consumer concerns for the past several years. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has produced a
multimedia presentation to help you protect yourself from identity theft. The presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft.
For more information on ID Theft Prevention: