Email Scams (03/24/08)

Consumers have reported receiving emails claiming to be holding funds for the recipient (ex: lotto winnings or an inheritance), or requesting the recipient's assistance in processing funds through a bank account (ex: the treasurer of a war torn country asking for assistance, in exchange for a fee, in transferring funds away from rebels). Also, there have recently been a series of fraudulent "advance fee loan" emails offering low cost, low interest rate refinancing options. These are especially disturbing given the current refinancing market and the confusion caused with legitimate lending offers.

Scam emails come in a variety of formats, from simple, poorly written letters, to web formatted letters which include corporate logos, links to email addresses and websites and references to legitimate companies. These scams succeed by convincing the recipient to send a "small" processing fee to receive the promised reward, be it a lottery winning, finders fee or low rate loan. In some cases, not only is the fee lost, the scam artists use the information provided to draw additional funds from the recipient's account.

It has come to our attention that one such "Lotto" email scam is claiming to have lottery funds being held for the recipient in the Winter Hill Bank London UK. Please be advised that Winter Hill Bank does not have a branch or affiliate bank in London. These emails are fraudulent and responding to them may lead to financial or identification loss.

If you receive this, or any other scam email, be sure to follow the steps below to eliminate your risk of loss.

• Do not, under any circumstances, provide any information in response to this email.
• Report the email as spam to your internet service provider (ISP) and forward a copy to your ISP if instructed to do so.
• Delete the email.
• If you have any concern that your account information has been compromised, contact the Bank to change your passwords and/or account numbers immediately.

As long as you remain aware of your online surroundings, you should have no problem continuing to use the internet and email safely. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at 800-444-4300.