Dear Valued Customer,

Consolidated Communications is notifying its Internet customers about an abusive email practice in which a fraudulent message requests that the company’s broadband customers submit personal information online.

Consolidated Communications officials emphasize that the company Never uses electronic communication to request personal information, and it is warning consumers to delete suspicious email and report encounters with the abusive practice known as “phishing.” “Phishing” is typically an electronic attempt to acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, birth dates, passwords, bank account or credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity.

The suspicious email message was sent this week to Internet users with Consolidated Communications domain names. It falsely claims an affiliation with Consolidated Communications while making a request for personal data.

Customers who encounter a suspicious email or website claiming an affiliation with Consolidated Communications should report the information by forwarding it to: abuse@consolidated.net. Within its network support team, Consolidated Communications has technical staff with expertise in investigating Internet abuse.