Some First National Bank of Bryan customers have been receiving e-mails that appear to be from the bank asking account holders to update their information on the bank's Web site.

When customers clicked on a link in the e-mail, they were directed to a site that mirrored First National's online banking site.

But the e-mails didn't come from the bank, and the Web site was a fake, set up to fool customers into revealing personal account information -- a scam known as phishing.

The fake Web site has been shut down, but phishing is an ongoing scheme, and new impostor sites are likely to continue popping up, said Dan Rollins, president and chief operating officer of Prosperity Bank, which acquired First National Bank of Bryan this month.

Rollins said the bank's change of ownership may have played a role in the e-mail scam.

"Unfortunately, crooks do lots of things to take advantage of people," Rollins said. "When you have a situation like we had, you tend to see an increase in these e-mails."

It's not the first time phishing scams have surfaced in the area.

In May, Citizens State Bank of Somerville warned of e-mails that directed users to a Web site asking for customers' debit card numbers. And in April, First National Bank and Aggieland Credit Union customers were targeted by e-mail schemes that informed customers that their accounts had been compromised and urged them to call a toll-free number to reactivate their debit cards.

Rollins said the bank would never send e-mails asking for personal information, and a warning on Prosperity's Web site urged recipients of such e-mails to report them to the bank and not to follow links provided or to call phone numbers listed in the messages.

"How often does it happen to our bank? Not often at all," Rollins said. "But I think most importantly, we need to make sure that everybody is careful to not give any sensitive information over e-mail or over phone from someone who is contacting you first."

IN SHORT

Phishing is an attempt to steal a person's identity and financial information through spoofed e-mails and counterfeit Web sites that are designed to trick recipients into disclosing data such as credit card numbers, user names, passwords and Social Security numbers. The Anti- Phishing Working Group has compiled a list of recommendations to avoid becoming a victim of these scams:

* Be suspicious of any e-mail with requests for personal financial information.

* Don't use the links in an e-mail, instant message or chat to get to any Web page if you suspect the message might not be authentic or you don't know the sender.

* Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that ask for personal financial information.

* Communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information only via a secure Web site or the telephone.

* Consider installing a Web browser toolbar to help protect you from known fraudulent Web sites. These toolbars match where you are going with lists of known phishing Web sites and will alert you.

* Regularly log into your online accounts.

* Regularly check your bank, credit and debit card statements to ensure that all transactions are legitimate.

* If anything is suspicious, contact your bank and card issuers.

* Ensure that your browser is up to date and that security patches have been applied.

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