ALLIED Irish Bank is warning customers of an elaborate scam that is an attempt to fool customers into handing over their personal details.

Fraudsters are circulating a very believable email purporting to be from AIB and requesting internet banking and credit card details.

The criminals have managed to recreate a mock-up of the AIB Internet Banking page, which they hope will fool customers into thinking they are actually on the AIB page.

The emails request AIB internet banking customers to log into their account through a link in the email, to verify any possible invalid login attempts.

Clicks

It tells the customer that "AIB is temporarily limiting and restricting your account", and that personal details must be confirmed so that the account can be reactivated.

According to AIB: "When a customer clicks on the link, they are not brought to AIB internet banking but to a fake web page."

This page looks identical to the normal banking page, which has led customers to believe they are on a genuine site.

The bank was alerted to the problem by some vigilant customers who reported seeing fraudulent screens while logging into internet banking.

The bank says the screens are "caused by malicious software, downloaded to their computers".

In their warning, AIB say: "They [customers] are required to enter their: full personal access code (PAC), name on card, home phone number, address on card, date of birth, card number, expiry date, active code card PIN, CVV, email address and email password.

Risky

"This mail is NOT from AIB -- it is a fraudulent attempt to obtain your banking details."

AIB has an extra layer of protection in the form of individually issued code cards, which are necessary to transfer funds.

However, it would still be extremely risky to allow the above information pass into the wrong hands.

The bank's advice is to not click on any links or enter any details, but to instead forward the mail to alert@aib.ie.

A spokesperson told the Herald that AIB would never ask customers to reveal their banking details through email, as this would be too risky.

Consumer protection experts told the Herald that home computer users should always verify financial sites before giving away their personal information.

- Kevin Doyle