IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CREDIT CARD HOLDERS

Recent “phishing” attacks were lodged against Fifth Third Bank cardholders and cardholders of other banks. Phishing is a highly that sophisticated scam that computer hackers utilize to obtain customers’ account numbers, login IDs and passwords. The hackers send unsolicited e-mails to large numbers of people who may or may not be customers of the targeted financial institution. The fraudulent e-mails often state that the bank will suspend service unless the customer updates their records; the e-mails look authentic, but they are not. The hackers hope to lure some actual customers of the bank to click a link to a fraudulent Web site and enter their customer account numbers or personal information. The fraudulent Web site closely resembles your bank’s. The hackers can then use this customer account information to possibly compromise your account.

It is important to note that a bank will NEVER solicit account or personal information from you via an unsolicited e-mail or through an e-mail with an embedded link to a Web site or a toll-free number. The best way to protect yourself against pfishing attacks is to never provide personal or account information OF ANY KIND via an unsolicited e-mail or Web site link.