From: "U.S. Bank" Add to Address Book
To: wstussyb
Subject: Your account at U.S. Bank has been suspended.
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:24:18 -0400 (EST)
Dear U.S. Bank account holder,
We regret to inform you, that we had to block your U.S. Bank account
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 activity related to your account that indicates that other parties may have access and or control of your information in your account.
These parties have in the past been involved with money laundering, illegal drugs, terrorism and various Federal Title 18 violations.
In order that you may access your account we must verify your identity by clicking on the link below.
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 below.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. link
Before you reactivate your account, all payments have been frozen, and you will not be able to use your account in any way until we have verified your
identity.
Too bad I dont have a bank account =-)
Bank warns customers about hoax e-mails
Associated Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- U.S. Bank warned consumers today to ignore e-mails that appeared to have been sent by the Minneapolis-based bank asking for bank account numbers and other confidential information.
The e-mail notifies receivers that their U.S. Bank accounts have been blocked because "we have been notified that your account may have been compromised by outside parties."
The letter goes on to say that "these parties have in the past been involved with money laundering, illegal drugs, terrorism."
U.S. Bank accounts have not been frozen or blocked, as the e-mail states, and receivers should not respond to its request to click on a Web link.
"We took immediate action to shut down the site. No account information has been compromised," U.S. Bank spokesman Steve Dale said on Monday. He had no details about the Web site.
U.S. Bank didn't know how widespread the e-mails are. The company has received inquiries about the e-mails from outside Minnesota, Dale said.
The bank believes that the e-mails started sometime Sunday, making their way into computer mailboxes of customers and others who don't even have an account with U.S. Bank, Dale said.
If anyone has responded to the e-mail, they should phone 1-800-US-BANKS and, following prompts, get in touch with U.S. Bank's "fraud liaison center" or its "Internet banking center," he said. link
It's only scary if you're stupid. Anyone sensible should know that banks never, ever ask you for information like passwords and PIN numbers. There was a similar scam here a few months ago and they made a major point of letting everyone know that.
To stay up to date on all the latest hoax emails, check frequently with link
They specialize in 'urban legends' but also deal with stuff like this, and the recent nonsense about the FBI sending out emails about file-sharing.
(although the site seems to be down at the moment... check back later)
the key for people to realize is
if they ever get emails like that or similiars is to ignore and delete them
if you click the 'remove me' or 'unsubscribe' links or even reply it validates your email address and you will end up getting more junk..
Citi is another one that has major problems with fraud emails-- the people have even created a mirror citibank web site to confuse the unknowing even more
when in doubt call the cardholder number on your card and ask-
unfortunately there will be thousands who will not and will reply and put their info in and get majorly ripped off
another stupid thing here in Holland: you guys know these cash machines right? you have to enter your pincode in order to get money from you account. Now most of these machines are completely out in the open, without any protection against people looking at you typing you code. It's virtually impossible to keep it to yourself. When you et robbed, and someone steals 1000 euros before you froze your account, you do not get a refund, because you should have kept your code better protected.
How's that for bullshit