State warns about e-mail scam

The State Attorney's Office is warning e-mail users not to respond to a scam styled like a message from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The e-mail, which looks like it comes from the FDIC, states that all insurance on the recipient's bank accounts will be canceled because of the account holder's suspected violations of the U.S. Patriot Act.

The e-mail asks for personal identification information from the recipient so the coverage won't be terminated, the State Attorney's Office said.

Although the e-mail message features an Internet link where users can respond, this link really redirects recipients to a site where people's identifying information can be submitted and then used in identity thefts.

State Attorney Steve Russell said the e-mail actually originates in Hungary, and he warned residents not to respond to the scam. Officials with the FDIC said today that they have received about 50 copies of this e-mail from concerned e-mail users.