I am curious

frank b · #1 07/26/12, 04:36 PM

I got an email with a pdf attachment from the bank that I bank with. It is an e-statement. I have e-statement with them but I don't have an account like the one they sent. I called the bank and the email address is theirs as well as the phone number on the email but they won't tell me anything about the account, just that it is auto sent.

My virus checker says there is no virus. I have not opened it yet.

My question. Can you get a virus from a pdf attachment?

Zephaniah · #2 07/27/12, 04:47 AM

Look at the email headers. if from bank ---

Download it then open with adobe.

HermitJohn · #3 07/27/12, 09:18 AM

Usually banks have a secure email system on their website. You might get an email notice to go to the website to read an email, but they wont put details in what they consider an insecure email. Also DO NOT click on any links in an email. Do not open any attachments. If its for real, there wont be any links, nor attachments, they will tell you to type in their address and then normally log into their website. All actual communications will be handled once you log onto your account in normal manner.

WhyNot · #4 07/31/12, 06:32 AM

I would be extremely cautious as well. Having several financial accounts and also doing online banking since it came about, I've NEVER had a bank actually send the actual statement to my email.

Like HermitJohn said, usually it's just a notice...I get these: "your statement is ready" And then I go login to their secure website and can view/download them myself there.

The ONLY statement concerning financing I have ever gotten in PDF form is from a merchant payment processor and those emails are all encrypted and passworded and I have special software keys to even open the email...generally...it's something you expect coming because it's been setup beforehand.

IF this is something that your bank is doing, I would think they would have been not only more informational on the telephone but you would have known that they were going to change how they deliver their statements.

mistletoad · #5 07/31/12, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank b

My question. Can you get a virus from a pdf attachment?

Yes. And your anti-virus software might not catch it due to the way it parses pdf files.

nadja · #6 07/31/12, 09:44 AM

Here is something for you to think about. If the email sent containing the phone number, did you call that number or look it up and call the regular number ? It would be very easy to send phishing emails with all he right pic's etc and then simply change the phone number and you call it thinking it was acually from the bank.

As you have been advised earlier in this post, never click on any links on a supposed bank email, instead, go to your account, sign in and check there.