NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - More fraudulent e-mails claiming to be from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. are appearing in mailboxes, this time claiming that the insurer is collaborating with credit card companies to help secure cards against fraud.

"One that went out in January was fishing for personal financial information. One earlier this month spread a computer virus," said FDIC spokesman David Barr.

The latest fake e-mail tells customers that they can be added to a secure, online transaction network and get discount coupons to popular online retailers by accessing the embedded link or attachments.

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Fraud Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Computer Virus or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this?

Barr said consumers should not access the link or attached files and should not, under any circumstances, provide personal information.

"The FDIC rarely directly contacts consumers, and if we do it's usually to tell them that their financial institution has failed. We never ask for personal financial information," he said.

Fake e-mails often look quite authentic, Barr added, noting people should be very careful about clicking on links provided in e-mails.