Email viruses and worms have become very common and can be very destructive. Please review the questions below to help identify whether or not to open an email you receive. You should only open a message that you feel confident is safe. Messages with attachments can be especially dangerous, as some viruses and worms can spread just by opening the message without opening the attachment. Even if you have antivirus software installed, the virus may be new enough that your software will not yet detect it.

1. Do you know the person that sent the email?
2. Have you received email from him/her before?
3. Did you expect an email from this sender?
4. If there is an attachment, was it expected? (Please note that American Marine Bank and its employees generally do not send emails with attachments to our customers.)
5. Does the subject of the email make sense based on the sender? Would this person normally send an attachment to you of this type?

Remember you are the only person who can protect your computer from viruses, worms and other malicious code. When connecting to the Internet, using email, or sharing files with others be sure to keep your virus software up-to-date and consider using firewall software as well.

To protect yourself, the FTC offers a website with information on identity theft and how to prevent it. The site offers valuable resources and guidance for protecting your identity, before it is compromised as well as steps you can take in the event that your identity has been compromised.

If you suspect an incident of identity theft, please report it to the FTC. The identity theft hotline is 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

At American Marine Bank, the security of your accounts and personal information is our top priority. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers about fraudulent emails, pop-up advertisements and phony web sites that attempt to bait consumers into disclosing confidential personal information. These emails may appear to be from legitimate companies that you do business with - such as your bank, an online auction site, or your Internet service provider. You are then asked to validate or confirm your billing or personal information to keep their records active by clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Many times these messages can contain viruses, designed to record your keystrokes. These emails can also direct you to web sites that appear to be genuine.

American Marine Bank will never request personal information from customers via email or pop-up windows.

One way to help fight this type of fraud is to educate yourself and be cautious when providing information and learn the steps you can take to protect your personal information. To find out more, please visit www.ftc.gov or call toll free to 1-877-4357 to file a complaint or get free information on how to prevent and avoid e-mail scams. The FDIC has also created a helpful and informative Phishing Brochure.

If you are a homeowner who needs money to pay bills or for home repairs, you may think a home equity loan is the answer. But not all loans and lenders are the same-you should shop around. The cost of doing business with high-cost lenders can be excessive and, sometimes, downright abusive. The attached brochure provided by the FDIC explains that borrowing from an unscrupulous lender, especially one who offers a high-cost mortgage loan using the borrower's home as security, could result in the loss of the borrower's home and money. Certain lenders, called "predatory lenders," target homeowners with low incomes or credit problems or who are elderly by deceiving them about credit terms or making loans which they cannot afford to repay.

Learn more by reading the brochure Putting Your Home on the Line is Risky Business.