Bank works to combat Web scam

An Internet scam is targeting Bremer Bank customers, but the bank is working with law enforcement officials to combat the criminals.

And the message to customers serves as a safety reminder for anyone with an Internet connection.

The e-mail scam is called phishing. It's so named because a criminal creates the same look as a legitimate site as a way to deceive people into giving confidential information.

Recently, such a fraudulent e-mail targeted Bremer Bank customers by telling them their access to the online banking service was suspended and they needed to click on an attached link to verify their identity in order to continue service.

Susan Beatty, corporate communications and public relations officer at Bremer Financial Services, confirmed the bank was the target of a phishing attack.

Beatty said Bremer never sends e-mails requesting anyone to send personal information via e-mail or through a Web site.

Bank tells its online banking customers to check the Web site with the bank's legitimate site address, which is - https://ob.bremer.com/bremer/login.aspx.

Beatty provided safety tips from Bremer Bank as reminders to keep account information confidential.

Never provide personal information in response to an unsolicited request either through the phone or by the Internet.

Never provide a password via the phone or the Internet in response to an Internet request.

Do not use an Internet link embedded in an e-mail. Always manually enter the full address yourself. (The embedded link may look official but may in fact link to an entirely different site.)

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.