Online Security

E-mail Claiming to be from the FDIC-December 21,2011

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of fraudulent emails that have the appearance of being sent from the FDIC.

While the emails exhibit variations in the "From" and "Subject" lines, the messages are similar.

The fraudulent emails are said to notify recipients of "recent changes in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance coverage." They state, "During the period from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2012 all the money in a "noninterest-bearing transaction account" are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Please note, that this is a temporary measure besides the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's general rules.

The term "noninterest-bearing transaction account" includes a usual checking account or demand deposit account on which no interest is paid by the insured depository institution."

The hyper link is provided (the Web addresses (URL) vary widely) to a Web site that supposedly provides "more details of this temporary FDIC coverage for transaction accounts."

This email and link are fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent of this email as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, or to load malicious software onto end users' computers. Recipients should not click on the link provided.

The FDIC does not issue unsolicited emails to consumers or business account holders.

For more information on Consumer Alerts visit: http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html

Protect Your Personal Information

Banking online is typically safer than traditional, paper based banking, however you should be careful to safeguard your personal data and finances. In some cases fraudulent emails ("phishing" emails) can be sent to customers from a phony email address that appear similar to a respected financial institution such as PremierWest Bank. When situations occur, it is important that they are identified and are brought to our attention immediately.

As a valued PremierWest online banking customer, we want you to know that:

  • PremierWest Bank will NEVER send an unsolicited email that directs you to enter personal or financial information into a website location.
  • PremierWest Bank will NEVER send you an email that notifies you that your log on has been restricted or suspended.
  • PremierWest Bank will NEVER send you an email that requests you to verify your logon/password credentials or your account or debit card number.
  • PremierWest Bank will NEVER ask you to log into our online banking account through a link in an email message. You should only log into your online banking account by directly typing in the web address: www.premierwestbank.com.

If you feel your information has been compromised, please contact your local Branch immediately or call PremierWest Bank's customer service at 1(800)708-4378.

Security Safety Tips:

  • Do not provide personal information over the Internet unless you know or have initiated the contact.
  • Fake sites may ask you to "agree" to its new terms and then threaten to suspend your account if you do not agree. Legitimate organizations with whom you do business have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
  • Watch for the padlock symbol at the bottom bar of your computer screen to ensure that the site is running in a secure mode before entering any sensitive information.

Email Security Safety Tips:

  • Question suspicious emails. Don't reply to email or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information, and don't click on links in the message. Never provide personal or financial information over the internet.
  • Don't cut and paste a link from the message into your web browser – phishers can make links look like they go one place, but that actually send you to a different site.
  • We will never send you an email asking for personal, financial information or your online ID or password.
  • If you receive an email that appears to be suspicious, do not reply to it or click on the link it provides. Simply delete it.
  • If you think you may have provided personal or account information in response to a fraudulent email or website, report the fraud to us immediately, change your passwords, and monitor your account activity frequently.
  • Open email attachments only if you know the sender. It is best to scan attachments with your anti-virus software prior to opening.
  • Never open email attachments that have file endings of .exe, .pif, or .vbs. These are file extensions for executable files and are commonly dangerous.
  • Be careful and selective before providing your email address to a questionable website. Sharing your email address makes you more likely to receive fraudulent emails.
  • Confirm the validity of all requests for sensitive personal, financial, or account information. Particularly if they are made with an urgent or threatening tone. Contact us using the contact information located on your monthly account statements.