Dear Sir:

I have an e-mail telling me that I have an online banking account with Bank of America. We have never used or will use the internet for banking.The mailing requests information. Is this actually a mailing from your bank?

The email address of the sender is "Bank of America" The underline was put in by my computer. It appears that the email was sent from New Zealand. Is this true? Is the statement that we have an account with you true? I need to know if there has been a theft of our ID. None of the links at the bottom of the email work. Thank you your help. Please share what you know about phishing with your friends and family. Below are some links that will help educate them so that they don't have to rely on their instincts to spot a fraud.

Consumer Advice: How to Avoid Phishing Scams [Anti-Phishing Group]
Recognize phishing scams and fraudulent e-mails [Microsoft]
(Photo:The Joy Of The Mundane)

Chinese authorities say the reporter fabricated the report in order to get "higher audience ratings" on Chinese State TV. From the AP:

Beijing authorities said investigations had found that an employee surnamed Zi had fabricated the report to garner "higher audience ratings", the China Daily said on Thursday.

"Zi had provided all the cardboard and asked the vendor to soak it. It's all cheating," the paper quoted a government notice as saying.

A city-wide inspection of steamed bun vendors in the wake of the report had found no such cases, the paper said.

No one is saying what the law is, and no one seems to have any idea what will happen to "Zi."

Beijing Cardboard-Stuffed Buns a Hoax [Guardian] (Thanks, Ian!)
China reporter held over cardboard-in-buns story [CNN]
(Photo:AP)