The unsolicited phishing e-mail is being directed towards the customers of TIC Federal Credit Union.

The text in the e-mail says that the recipient has been chosen to participate in an easy and quick survey of the Union. However, for the time the recipient would spend for it, he would receive a reward of $99.99 that the Credit Union would deposit into his account.

To begin with, the e-mail recipient should click on a given link i.e. http://www.ticfederalcreditunion.us, the text further says.

However, users who follow this link are taken to a phishing site, reveal security investigators.

Meanwhile, describing the link, TIC Marketing Manager Jessica Johnson says that it is purely fictional and the e-mail is not from them, as reported by Wrbl on July 10, 2009.

To make the scam e-mail appear legitimate and authentic, the scammers or 'phishers' have added the 'Copyright particulars' to the phishing message, security researchers further reveal. The tactic is sufficient to lure any recipient of the e-mail into opening the link.

Meanwhile, to inform people about the deceptive e-mail making the rounds, TIC Credit Union has issued a warning message via its authorized website to say that TIC never requests its members to furnish their personal financial details via e-mail, phone or any other communication mode.

Besides, TIC also appeals to the community that it remains careful from unsolicited e-mails. It further recommends that users avoid clicking on e-mails that arrive from unknown sources as they could carry viruses. They should not open links embedded in e-mails coming from strangers as the tactic could land them on phishing sites.

Moreover, if any member of the Credit Union has got this e-mail in his inbox or any other phony message stating it is from TIC, then the recipient must report the incident to the Credit Union's Branch staff or dial the helpdesk numbers of TIC's call center.