Bank customers are being warned to be on their guard after a flood of bogus e-mails in Bermuda attempting to trick the unwary into revealing their bank account details and passwords.

The so-called "phishing" attack came in the form of e-mails claiming to be from the Bank of Bermuda's security department advising customers to follow an Internet link to see a new security zone.

However, despite the e-mail having the bank's logo attached it was a hoax designed to catch people out and get them to reveal their account details and passwords.

An investigation into the bogus website suggests it was set up in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Bank of Bermuda acted swiftly to shut down the scam site as soon as it was alerted.

"The bank acted immediately and has, through the appropriate authorities, disabled the offending site and has published a warning on the bank's sign-on page for EasyLink Online, advising customers of this recent phishing attack," said Bank of Bermuda in a statement.

"We would like to advise our customers that any requests received via e-mail to validate personal information be declined. Under no circumstances would Bank of Bermuda send e-mails requesting customer to confirm debit or credit card number, account number or their personal log on information."

Anyone who has responded to the bogus e-mail should contact the bank's Easy Link Online Services Team on 299-5959. Customers can verify that they are on the genuine sign on website page by clicking the padlock symbol at the bottom tray of their browser to see the ELO certificate, which is issued by Entrust.net.