Be alert; watch for internet scams Published April 16, 2007 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Air Force users have been recipients of Bank of America e-mails advising them that their Military Bank Online service accounts have or will be deactivated because of inaccurate account information. The e-mail warns that a hold is or will be placed on the account indefinitely until the account information is updated via a link in the e-mail. Bank of America has confirmed these emails should be treated as fraudulent and cardholders should not respond or supply any information. There are various versions of the e-mail but the bottom line is the same - the originators of these e-mails are "phishing" for personal information. Phishing, also referred to as brand spoofing or carding, is a form of social engineering designed to trick customers into providing personal information to a false source. The term is a variation on "fishing," the idea being that bait is thrown out with the hopes someone will be tempted into biting. Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user's information. Editor's Note: The above advisory currently appears on the Air Force Portal homepage.