Beware Dot Cons

Even if you?re not a Regions Bank customer, you may have received an email that begins:

"We recently reviewed your account, and suspect that your Regions Bank account may have been accessed by an unauthorized third party."

Cyber fraud experts say that warning is just the latest "phishing expedition" by online scammers.

In fact, a visit to the Regions Bank website proves the email is nothing but an attempt to steal your identity.

"Regions does not contact customers via e-mail to verify or request security information. However, some customers -- and non-customers -- have received fraudulent or what is now called either "spoofing" or "phishing" emails that have illegally used the Regions name, logo, Web site design and/or graphics."

If a fake email from Regions hasn?t landed in your inbox, then you?ve probably received one from some other scammer parading as eBay, PayPal or even your own bank.

In phishing attacks, scammers lure customers to legitimate-looking Web sites, where they are asked to type in personal information such as social security numbers. Next thing you know, your identity?s been stolen and credit card accounts are being opened in your name.

It?s another in a long list of "dot cons" swirling around the World Wide Web.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, "phishing" is one of the newest and hottest scams on the web.

But the online auction is by far the biggest woe reported to the FBI?s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

In this scam, would-be sellers post items for sale on eBay and other auction sites at unbelievable discounts. But be warned, the FBI says if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

Buyers often send their money, then never receive anything in return. And if they do, it's a cheap reproduction of what they ordered.

Another top scam is a familiar one, since most people with an email address have received it.

It?s the "Nigerian 419" and solicits a cash advance with the promise of a big payoff. It usually involves a deposed minister or an unfortunate oil tycoon. People who fall for this scam lose an average of $3,000, the FBI says.

Federal officials said people should never, ever give any personal information to these scammers.

The U.S. Secret Service wants to talk to anyone who has actually lost money due to this scam.

Call the Secret Service Financial Crimes Division at (202)406-5850 or see the agency's Web site.

For more information on this story or to suggest story ideas, please click here to send Kari Pugh email

Click on video to see Gary Reals' 5pm report on cyber crime.