The Bank of Israel sent out an e-mail warning Tuesday saying that messages that were sent recently asking customers for details, like bank account numbers and passwords, were phonies. According to the e-mail, the messages, which invited readers to click on a link that led them to a site that was very similar to the BOI's, belonged to a group of internet criminals who try to trick bank customers into giving over their private information. The BOI said in its e-mail that it would never ask for details in such a manner.

Two weeks ago, scammers attempted to trick Bank Leumi customers into disclosing details using a similar subterfuge, with customers being led to a site that looked just like Bank Leumi's. The bank was able to contact the company where the phony site was hosted and have it shut down.