Those clever phishermen have a new strategy

We've all been warned about the dangers of clicking on links in emails purporting to be from a bank, the IRS or some other government agency. The latest fraudulent email I received capitalizes on those warnings. It says:

ADVISORY: Some members and non-members of Franklin Bank have received fraudulent emails. This email was NOT issued by Franklin Bank, and should be deleted. Do not follow the instructions in the email. Do not click the link. For security reasons we have deactivated your debit card. Please contact us at (800) xxx-xxxx to activate your debit card. (I have x-ed out the phone number)

The email features the logo of a real Franklin Bank to make it look official. The email address is almost like that of the real Franklin Bank. But of course the phone number is the fraudsters' number, not the bank's number. If you call and give out your debit card information, your bank account most likely will be emptied in a matter of minutes.

So if you get an email purporting to be from your bank, don't click and don't call the number in the email. Instead, call the number that's on your statement or that you've looked up yourself.