FBI nets 33 in phishing investigation

The FBI has arrested 33 US citizens following an investigation into an online email phishing scam, according to reports.

The Associated Press (AP) has reported that a further 47 individuals have been charged in Egypt by local authorities, with another 20 listed in the US indictment.

The arrests follow an investigation into a phishing scam where emails purporting to be from the Bank of America and Wells Fargo banks were used to trick customers into revealing personal information online.

The gang is reported to have scammed "thousands" of US citizens, netting over $1m.

"This may sound like run-of-the-mill bank fraud but it is much more serious, " Keith Bolcar, acting assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, told the AP. "This form of theft presents us with a new and elaborate form of con artist."

Although this case preyed on victims in the US, so-called phishing scams are common across the world. In order to stay safe, internet users should never click any link in an email purporting to be from their bank: instead visit the bank's website by typing its address directly into a browser.

Banks will never email customers asking them to "update" or "confirm" their personal account information online.