If you don't recognize a transaction or suspect fraudulent activity on your account, please contact your nearest Southern Bank office immediately.

Please note that Southern Bank will never send you an email requesting personal account information.

March 7, 2008 - Fraudulent VISA Debit Card E-mail

 A customer reports that she received an e-mail from the VISA Debit Card Security Department (notice@visa.com) stating that her account has been temporarily suspended due to fraud attempts. The e-mail goes on to state that she must complete an account update in order to unlock her account and provides a contact phone number. Of course, according to the e-mail, failure to provide information about the account will result in automatic deletion from their database.

This e-mail is fraudulent. Customers should not respond via e-mail or by calling the telephone number provided.

The e-mail itself has several grammatical errors and refers to the telephone number as “total free number”, which should be an obvious indicator of fraud to its recipients.

As always, it is important for customers to remember that Financial Institutions and Credit Card Companies do not communicate potential fraud against an account via e-mail; they will contact the customer directly if such a situation arises.

Special Alert From the FDIC

SA-57-2008
March 18, 2008

Subject: Consumer Alert

Summary: Fraudulent e-mails are being sent to consumers that claim to be from the FDIC in an attempt to obtain sensitive personal information, including bank account information. These e-mails falsely indicate that consumers can enroll in card insurance to protect against Internet fraud.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous notifications from consumers of an e-mail that gives the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The "From" line of the e-mail displays the name "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation " and the subject includes the words "Consumer Protection."

Current versions of the fraudulent e-mail state:

"Who is FDIC?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) preserves and promotes public confidence in the U.S. financial system by insuring deposits in banks.

What can FDIC do for you?

Despite the efforts of law enforcement, Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and the number of new victims is growing. In general, consumers are protected against liability for unauthorized accounts or transactions under federal and state law and by financial industry practices. Identity Theft can affect consumers in many ways, thats [sic] why FDIC is presenting a new card insurance which can restore you up to $500 if you are a victim of internet fraud.

Learn more about Consumer Protection > Card Insurance:
Clicking here will redirect you to a online signup page for this program."

The e-mail requests that recipients click on a hyperlink that is provided. This directs the recipient to a "spoofed" Web page requesting the user to enter personal information to receive $500 of "card insurance." The requested information (name, phone number, Social Security number, address, card number, bank name, card expiration date, card verification code, and electronic signature/ATM PIN) could be used to perpetrate identity theft and gain unauthorized access to bank accounts. Be aware that the appearance of the fraudulent e-mails can be modified and that additional variations are possible. Consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mail and should NOT, under any circumstances, provide any personal financial information through this media. The FDIC has shut down the fraudulent Web site and is investigating the source of the e-mails. Consumers are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.gov. Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Questions related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Note: Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200.

February 16, 2007 - Federal Reserve Board Alerts Public to Questionable Solicitations Directed at Homeowners

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday alerted the public to instances of questionable solicitations directed at homeowners. The Federal Reserve has received inquiries and complaints from recipients of direct mail solicitations that suggest there is a "Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program" that entitles certain homeowners to cash grants or equity disbursements. Some of these solicitations may be read to indicate that the Federal Reserve endorses or supports the offers they contain. These solicitations appear to be a deceptive effort to encourage consumers to apply for a mortgage loan secured by the consumer's home. The Federal Reserve cautions the public about loan solicitations or other offers from lenders or mortgage brokers that offer consumers cash grants or equity disbursements as part of a "CRA Program." No such federal programs exist, and these programs are not required by the CRA.

http://www.frbatlanta.org/bank_info/circ_router.cfm

January 5, 2007 - Bank Issues Fraud Alert

Mount Olive , NC -- Citing numerous reports from its customers of fraudulent phone calls soliciting personal, account, and otherwise confidential information, Southern Bank & Trust of Mount Olive has issued a special fraud alert to all citizens in Eastern North Carolina who either have a current or previous relationship with the Bank.

According to the bank, the caller fraudulently identifies themselves as a representative from Southern Bank Securities. The caller continues that the bank’s computer system is down, or there is a glitch in the computer system, then proceeds to attempt to obtain information from bank customers in regards to account numbers and check numbers.

The bank reports the calls are false – there is no such entity as Southern Bank Securities - and anyone receiving such a call should hang up and report it to their local Southern Bank representative.

“These phone calls are false and an attempt to commit fraud on our customers’ accounts,” said Drew Covert, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Bank. “No legitimate call from any Southern Bank representative will ever solicit personal or confidential information over the phone. We warn anyone who may receive such a call to not comply with the request and, if possible, use caller ID service to report the incident and related phone number to their local Southern Bank office.”

Founded in 1901, Southern Bank is the third oldest state chartered commercial bank in North Carolina. With over $1 billion in total assets, it serves Eastern North Carolina with over 50 locations. More information about the bank, as well as tips on how to prevent or avoid fraud is available on the Internet at www.southernbank.com.

October 5, 2006: Consumer Alert from the FDIC:
SUBJECT: Fraudulent E-Mail Claims to Be From the FDIC
Summary: E-mails that falsely claim to be from the FDIC are requesting that recipients provide highly sensitive online banking information. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of fraudulent e-mails appearing to be from the FDIC. The e-mails ask recipients to click on a hyperlink titled "Take the Corrective Action – Implement the LinkBank System." When accessed, the hyperlink takes the individual to a "spoofed" FDIC Web page. At that point, the individual is directed to provide online banking information, including bank name, username, and password.

The fraudulent e-mails appear in "memo format" and are purportedly from "Russell A. Rau, Assistant Inspector General for Audits." The e-mails include a "Subject" line that states: "Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection's Risk-Focused Compliance Examination Process for [recipient's name inserted] (Report No. 05-038)."

The FDIC does not directly contact consumers in this manner, nor does the FDIC request personal financial information from consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of these e-mails and should NOT, under any circumstances, provide any personal financial information through this medium.

Financial institutions and consumers should be aware that other similar e-mails may be sent that falsely claim to be from the FDIC.

The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the fraudulent e-mails and disrupt the transmission. Until this is achieved, consumers and financial institutions should notify the FDIC at alert@fdic.gov of any similar attempts to obtain personal financial information.

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.


 
September 13, 2006: Consumer Alert from the FDIC:

SUBJECT: Fraudulent E-Mail Claims to Be From the FDIC
Summary: E-mails fraudulently claiming to be from the FDIC are attempting to trick recipients into installing unknown software on personal computers. These e-mails falsely indicate that recipients should install software that was developed by the FDIC and other agencies. The software may be a form of spyware or malicious code and may collect personal or confidential information.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to install unknown software on personal computers. Currently, the subject line of the e-mail includes the phrase "Urgent Notification - Security Reminder." The e-mail is fraudulent and was not sent by the FDIC.

The fraudulent e-mail describes "a small client utility"—referred to as "ProBank"—that recipients are asked to install on home and business computers. The e-mail claims:

"...this utility only starts whenever an online session is opened with a Financial
Institution insured by the FDIC, thus it will never interfere with any programs installed
on your computer. Please help us combat fraud by installing, ProBank on any computer
that is used to open an Online Banking session."

The e-mail requests that recipients click on a hyperlink that appears to be related to the FDIC, which directs recipients to an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or to conduct identity theft.

Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link or download the executable file provided within the body of the e-mail.

The e-mail also asks financial institutions to "advertise and market the ProBank's existence to employees, suppliers, third-party service providers and customers." Financial intuitions should NOT advertise the existence of the software. Rather, they should educate customers and staff about the existence of these and similar phishing e-mails.

The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission. Until this is achieved, consumers and financial institutions are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.gov.

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

 
Consumer Alert from the FDIC:

Consumers have received e-mails that fraudulently claim to be from the FDIC. These e-mails request that the recipients provide sensitive personal information and they include a link to a fraudulent Web site for this purpose.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has been notified that consumers have received e-mails that appear to the reader to be related to banking activities. The fraudulent e-mails request that the recipients respond to a notice from their bank to confirm an online payment to be made for products purchased. The link contained within the e-mail serves as a gateway to the fraudulent Web site. The fraudulent Web site is designed to look like a page from the FDIC's authentic Web page, where the individual is then directed to provide sensitive financial and personal information, such as bank or credit card account numbers.

The use of this type of e-mail scam, seeking to obtain sensitive information from individuals, is referred to as "phishing." The FDIC provides information on its Web site that explains more about phishing and other types of fraudulent activity targeting consumers at http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html. The information on this site also provides consumers with tips on protecting personal information from these types of scams.

This alert is intended to warn consumers that the fraudulent e-mail, which could also possibly contain a computer virus, was not sent by the FDIC. Financial institutions and consumers are warned NOT to access the link or submit personal information through this site. Additionally, as a reminder to all consumers, the FDIC strongly recommends that individuals safeguard personal information and refrain from responding to any unsolicited request for personal information.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2005/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.




August 16, 2006

Special Alert

 

 

E-mails to financial institution customers that fraudulently claim to be from the FDIC attempt to obtain highly sensitive personal information, including bank account information. These e-mails falsely indicate that consumers can enroll in an "FDIC protection system" to insure bank accounts against certain types of fraudulent activities.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous notifications from consumers of an e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The "From" line of the e-mail displays the name "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation" and the subject includes the phrase "IMPORTANT: Notification of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation."

The e-mail states that the FDIC received an application. It says, in part:

"…from your bank to ensure your Checking or Savings account against Fraud, phishing or Identity Theft. If u agree with the following, PLEASE ENROLL in the FDIC protection system."

The e-mail is fraudulent and was not sent by the FDIC. It is an attempt to obtain personal financial information from consumers. The e-mail requests that recipients click on a hyperlink that is provided, which directs the recipient to a "spoofed" Web page. The Web page appears to belong to the FDIC and requests information, such as: name, phone number, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, driver's license/issuing state, date of birth, e-mail address, postal address, credit/debit/ATM card number, card expiration date, card verification number, personal identification number (PIN), bank name, bank routing number, and bank account number.

Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mail and should NOT, under any circumstances, provide any personal financial information through this media.

The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission. Until this is achieved, consumers are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.gov.

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W. , Room F-4004, Washington , D.C. 20429 , or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information (1-877-275-3342).


Special Alert
June 13, 2006

FDIC Consumer Call Centers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington, D.C., have begun receiving a large number of complaints by consumers who received an e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The e-mail informs the recipient that Department of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has advised the FDIC to suspend all deposit insurance on the recipient’s bank account due to suspected violations of the USA PATRIOT Act. The e-mail further indicates that deposit insurance will be suspended until personal identity, including bank account information, can be verified.

This e-mail was not sent by the FDIC and is a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information from consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mail and should NOT under any circumstances provide any personal information through this media.

The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission. Until this is achieved, consumers are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.gov.

Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.
For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC Special Alerts may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information (1-877-275-3342).