Watch Out for This New Scam

If you get an e-mail claiming to be from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) telling you that your bank has failed and asking you to download a personal FDIC insurance file, it's a scam.According to a special alert from the FDIC, the subject line of the e-mail includes "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mail states: "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account.

If you get an e-mail claiming to be from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) telling you that your bank has failed and asking you to download a personal FDIC insurance file, it's a scam.

According to a special alert from the FDIC, the subject line of the e-mail includes "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mail states: "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets."

It also directs recipients to click on a link that supposedly goes to the FDIC site but really goes to a fraudulent site.

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The recession sparked several schemes to watch for, including mortgage-relief and job-search scams. See Scams Exploit Hard Times and Scams Ripped From Today's Headlines. Also take our quiz, Is This a Scam?

Cameron Huddleston
Former Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.

Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.