The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is receiving complaints from consumers who received an email that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The fraudulent email presents the recipients with an opportunity to secure their credit cards against fraud and to apply to be a part of a secure online network launched by the FDIC in collaboration with various credit card providers. By accessing an embedded link, the email claims that the recipient can sign up for a free trial membership, which provides shopping coupons for some of the more popular online retail outlets.

This email was not sent by the FDIC and may be a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information from consumers or to implant a computer virus onto the recipient’s computer. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link or attached files provided within the body of the email and should NOT under any circumstances provide any personal information to unknown sources.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC’s Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2004/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts, Financial Institution Letters and other announcements through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html.

Distribution: All insured institutions

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center , 801 17 th Street, NW , Room 100, Washington , DC 20434 (1-877-275-3342 or (703) 562-2200).