Fraudulent E-Mails Claiming to Be From the FDIC

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission.

Currently, the subject line of the fraudulent e-mails includes the wording "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mails state: "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets."

The e-mails ask recipients to "visit the official FDIC website" by clicking on a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms. However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause 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 online banking services or to conduct identity theft. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable files provided on the Web site.

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-3054, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2009/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Gizmodo Recommendation: Acer AS1410 Notebook Is Netbook-Sized and Netbook-Priced

tcs has sent you a link to a post on Gizmodo:

Title: Acer AS1410 Notebook Is Netbook-Sized and Netbook-Priced
Link: http://gizmodo.com/5385426/acer-as1410-notebook-is-netbook+sized-and-netbook+priced

tcs says: acer netbook

Gizmodo Recommendation: Barnes & Noble's Dual-Screened Nook: $260, Eats the Kindle's Lunch

tcs has sent you a link to a post on Gizmodo:

Title: Barnes & Noble's Dual-Screened Nook: $260, Eats the Kindle's Lunch
Link: http://gizmodo.com/5385938/barnes--nobles-dual+screened-nook-260-eats-the-kindles-lunch

tcs says: Kindle or B&N Nook?

tcs has forwarded a page to you from FierceBroadbandWireless

tcs thought you would like to see this page from the FierceBroadbandWireless web site.

IEEE begins work on 802.16m
by admin

There is 802.16d and 802.16e, and in a year or two, we will have 802.16m. The IEEE is now working on a new wireless standard called 802.16m, and the group entrusted with developing it hopes it

Click here to read more on our site

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Massive Phishing Attack on going

Starting October 6, there has been a massive phishing attack targeting Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and other type "gmail" accounts.

The most recent list of compromised accounts, which includes login credentials for Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Earthlink, and Comcast users, contains some accounts that appear to be old, unused, or fake. However, many others listed are, in fact, genuine.

The website where the accounts were posted - pastebin.com - is now "down for maintenance." Visitors to the site today will receive a message that reads:

Pastebin.com is getting an unprecedented amount of traffic due to a news story in which some leaked Hotmail passwords have been pasted on this site

Pastebin.com was intended as a tool to aid software developers, not for distributing this sort of material. Filters have been put in place to prevent reoccurrence, but the current traffic level is unsustainable.

Regardless of whether or not you think your account was compromised, today would be a good day to change the password on whichever webmail service you currently use. Better safe than sorry!

Also... as always, remember, don't fall for any email solicitations asking for your user id's and passwords, or any personal information!!! And, better yet, if you don't think the email looks legit; don't even open it.

As a side note... my credit card company contacted me this week and sent out new cards because they were compromised. Thousands of accounts were hacked. Good news is my credit card company is always on the ball and quick to freeze compromised accounts and issue new cards.... but be advised.... it's only going to get worse, so watch yourself and your electronic transactions!