At Croghan Colonial Bank, we are serious about protecting your financial information. We want you to know about a fraud scheme called "phishing" -- a growing computer scam that attempts to trick you into furnishing personal financial information that can be used to steal money and even identities. The word "phishing" describes a scam using fake Web sites and emails to "fish" for valuable personal information from you. Don't take the bait!

Phishing usually involves a bogus email using legitimate company materials, such as a logo or Web site "look", as a way of enticing email recipients to provide personal financial information (e.g., passwords or credit card and Social Security numbers). The email often tries to create a sense of urgency for you to "verify" confidential information by threatening loss of your online service or warning you of a security breach.

Phishing emails usually prompt you to respond immediately to the email or direct you to a seemingly authentic Web site where you are requested to provide your confidential information. If you comply, the thieves often use your information to make withdrawals from your accounts, make online purchases using your credit card, or even sell your personal information to other thieves.

Many people across the nation have been victimized by responding to one of these official-looking, but entirely bogus, emails.