The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received complaints from consumers who have received an e-mail that appears to have been sent by the FDIC. The fraudulent e-mail requests that recipients update account information due to inactive accounts, frauds and spoof reports, and that failure to do so will result in closure of the recipient's bank account.

The link contained within the e-mail, http://www.fdic.gov/register/cgi-bin/fdic_intsafe/register.jsp, serves as a gateway to the fraudulent website. The fraudulent website, which is designed to look like a page from the FDIC's authentic Web site, asks respondents to provide sensitive information, such as bank or credit card account numbers, as well as personal identification and Social Security numbers.

This fraudulent e-mail, which may contain a virus, was not sent by the FDIC. Financial institutions and consumers are warned NOT to access the link or submit personal information. Further, the FDIC strongly recommends that individuals safeguard personal information and refrain from responding to any unsolicited request for personal information.

The FDIC can be contacted toll free at 877-275-3342, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., ET. The FDIC's Web site is www.fdic.gov.

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