How to tell if an e-mail from a bank is a scam

1. If you receive an e-mail from a bank or other financial institution that you do not have a relationship with, and it asks you for a user name or password, it is a scam. Report the e-mail to AOL by clicking the Report Spam icon on the message.

2. Banks and other financial institutions have very strict policies about e-mailing their customers and will not ask for sensitive data by e-mail. Check the e-mail policy of your bank or financial institution. If the e-mail you received violates that policy, do not respond to the e-mail. Check Washington Mutual Bank's "Learn How to Spot an E-Mail Scam" page.

3. Check the e-mail carefully for misspellings, requests for information that the bank already has, such as your account or Social Security numbers, and other suspicious signs that the e-mail could be a scam.

4. When in doubt, call your bank or log on to its Web site by MANUALLY entering the Web address in AOL or your browser. Do not click on any links contained in the e-mail you received.

What to do if you believe you've received a Washington Mutual Bank scam:
Do not click on links in the e-mail.
MANUALLY type the Web address of your bank or financial institution into your AOL or Web browser. (In this case, type www.wamu.com and check the site for additional information.
Call your bank or financial institution and ask them to verify the e-mail for you.
Click Report Spam to report the mail to AOL.
Forward the message to spoof@wamu.com.

Related scam: SunTrust Bank 'Fraudulent Activity on Your Account' Scam