Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Bank, with more than 230 locations in the Mid-atlantic region, is the latest target of a phishing scam.
The bank issued a warning to its consumers about a phishing scam in which fraudulent emails claim that the customer's account has been suspended and they must go to a website to update their information so it can be unlocked.
Consumers should be aware that these are not legitimate emails from the bank, and they should not click on any links in these emails or respond with any confidential financial or other information, says Bryan Evans, a publicist for the bank.
The emails, he said, are part of a phishing scam, in which criminals are trying to trick people into divulging their confidential information.
Clicking on a link could expose a computer to malicious software that could track keystrokes, potentially giving the scammers private information such as account passwords, Evans added.
The fraudulent emails have been received both by Susquehanna Bank customers and non-customers. They've been designed to look as if they came from the bank, in some cases including the company's logo. Some of the emails are sent under the name of CommunityBanks, which Susquehanna acquired in November 2007.
Upon learning of the attempted phishing scam, Susquehanna immediately began investigating and engaged cyber-security experts to shut down the illegitimate websites. A notice posted on the bank's home page, www.susquehanna.net, cautions customers not to respond to these emails.
Customers are being reminded in mass emails that Susquehanna does not send unsolicited emails asking people to go to a website or call a phone number to update their account information. Anyone who has questions about a suspicious email they have received can call the bank at 1-888-566-2366.
