Phishing

Fortunately I got an email today that saved me from not having much to post:

Dear valued TCF Bank member,

It has come to our attention that on the 5th of January 2005, there were a series of login attempts from a foreign IP address which has resulted in a temporary hold on your account.

However, failure to confirm your records may result in your account suspension.

Please click the link below to reactivate your account.

https://www.tcfexpress.com/internetBanking/RequestRouter?requestCmdId=Reactivate

Sincerely,

TCF Security Department

This notification expires in 48 Hours.

Please do not reply to this mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.
For assistance, log in to your TCF Bank account and chose the "Help" link in the header of any page.*

This is plain and blatent phishing (Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them).

Definition is from the Anti-Phishing Working Group.

I can tell you it is phishing without ever visiting the website because:

• We don't have an account with this bank.
• They sent this to the email address I use exclusively for this blog. I don't use this email address when dealing with a business.

So don't fall for this one folks.

Comments

[Cop Car]

Unfortunately, I have received a few of these. I have forwarded each of them (from the "preview" state, without "opening", and with a comment that it looks like a scam to me) to [email protected] I should also file a complaint at www.ftc.gov; but, I'm not sure what they can do about off-shore stuff (which most of the ones I receive are, I believe). The FTC site, www.ftc.gov/idtheft, tells how to minimize risk of damage if one is a victim of ID theft.
I think that I clipped the above US government e-mail addresses and the US government web site from an AARP article (I don't recall which publication.)

[Wichi Dude]

Seems like we have the beginning of a whole fleet out there, "Troll-ers" and "Phish-ers" "surfing" the "web", "searching" to catch unwary "blogs" and "emails" in the "net".

[Buffy]

Thanks for the reminder! I'll be on guard and let DH know what to watch for.

[bogie]

WD - I've never realized how much of a "sea" the Internet is!

[Cop Car]

Yeah, the Phishes are making a tsunami on the internet--LOLLOL.

[bogie]

Groan!