Kuwait, May 8 2007: Gulf Bank is warning all customers to be aware of SMS "phishing", a fraudulent use of SMS mobile phone text messaging which may be designed to obtain confidential bank details illegally.

Gulf Bank has been alerted to a recent case in which customers of another bank received SMS text messages telling them they had won prizes and inviting them to contact their nearest branch.

Gulf Bank urges all customers to exercise extreme caution when receiving SMS text or email messages. These messages may be an attempt to obtain customers' personal account details. Should you receive a suspicious message, please contact Gulf Bank immediately on 805805.

It is Gulf Bank's policy not to request account numbers, PIN codes or other confidential customer information via SMS.

"Phishing" is a crime that affects the banking industry around the world. Gulf Bank places the highest priority on protecting confidential account details and has issued this alert in the interests of customer security.