First National Bank repels phishers in wake of scam
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

It's been about a month since fake e-mails, bearing the First National Bank of Greencastle logo, began appearing in people's inboxes. A couple variations of the e-mail have been received. In each case, it asks for personal information, and account and PIN numbers.

Someone is phishing.

Internet scammers have become sophisticated in ways to separate unwitting computer users from their money. When the user clicks a link and enters financial information, it goes to the scammer, who can then use the data for identity theft and to withdraw money from the person's accounts.

First National Bank just happens to be the target this time, as previously first reported in the Echo Pilot Aug. 16 edition.

"A bank will never, ever ask for financial information over an e-mail," said Julie Tarquino, marketing manager of First National Bank. She said phishing attacks on banks are not the norm, and the perpetrators of this one are doing a hitor miss kind of thing.

She said the bank has received calls from customers and non-customers alike, wondering if the e-mails are legitimate.

The bank has posted a warning about the scam on its own website, and is including information in its monthly statements, she said.

Tarquino said through the years the bank has conducted many seminars educating people on safety measures to take to protect account information. She said that no banking or financial institution would ever ask for that information via the computer.

"We already have everyone's account number and information, so why would we ask for that?"

What the bank doesn't have is customer e-mail addresses.

First National has hired a company to shut down the links on the e-mails. Now when a respondent clicks the link, it goes to a dead end. She said the company has been very successful in its efforts.

Because of the nature of the internet, it is difficult to track the perpetrators of the crime. Bank personnel do not know who is behind this one.

Concerning unsolicited emails, Tarquino urges, "Stop, look at it, and call us. If it looks suspicious, and too good to be true, it probably is."

While many businesses can be the victim of such a fraud, Tarquino said First National Bank would have no reason to be involved in contacting consumers this way.

"We don't do e-mail marketing," she said.