Bank of America Responses to Internet Fraud

SecurePCNews.com recently posted an alert about a new Phishing email targeting Bank of America online banking users. As part of our normal practice we also reported it directly to Bank of America's abuse contact.

In response to our report to them, Bank of America promptly responded and provided great advice for detecting and responding to fraudulent emails. The email also includes a link to great information about detecting protecting against fraud.

For more information about phishing you can also visit SecurePCNews.

Following is Bank of America's response:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

-----Original Message-----
From: noreply@bankofamerica.com [mailto:noreply@bankofamerica.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 12:21 AM
To: ajones@riverbankconsulting.com
Subject: In response to your Abuse Inquiry

Thank you for contacting Bank of America to report a potentially fraudulent email, commonly referred to as a "phishing" email. We take your security very seriously and will investigate this matter immediately. If our investigation determines that the email is fraudulent, we will take steps to have the site shut down.

Please note that you will not receive any further response from this mailbox.

For general account inquiries, or other fraud-related events that do not include fraudulent emails, please call the customer service number located on your account statement or refer to the Reporting Fraud section of www.bankofamerica.com/privacy.

Stay safe from Phishing: Easy clues to help you keep your personal information secure.

The main goal of a phishing email is to get you to a site where you will provide your personal information. With these basic, but powerful, clues, you can easily recognize the threat and ensure the safety of your identity and finances.

1. Does the email ask you to go to a website and verify personal information? We won't ask you to verify your personal information in response to an email.
2. What is the tone of the mail? Most phish emails convey a sense of urgency by threatening discontinued service or information loss if you don't take immediate action.
3. What is the quality of the email? Many phish emails have misspellings, bad grammar, or poor punctuation.
4. Are the links in the email valid? Deceptive links in phishing emails look like they are to a valid site, but deliver you to a fraudulent one. Many times you can see if the link is legitimate by just moving your mouse over the link.
5. Is the email personalized with your name and applicable account information? Many phish emails use generic salutations and generic information (e.g. "Dear Customer" or "Dear Account Holder") instead of your name.
6. What is the sender's email address? Many phish emails come from an email address not from the company represented in the email.
7. When in doubt, type it out. If you suspect an email to be phishing, don't click on any links in the email. Type the valid address directly into your web browser.

For more information, and to enhance your anti-phishing arsenal with our free Bank of America Toolbar, please visit our Privacy & Security website at www.bankofamerica.com/privacy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Don't be left in the dark about internet scams like phishing. Subscribe to the SecurePCNews.com Newsletter today!

Sphere: Related Content