HELP FIGHT FRAUD

You are the best defense in protecting your identity and your account! NEVER provide your personal information, card numbers, or PIN to anyone who contacts you by email or phone.   (see links for recent scams)

• One of the most common forms of fraud today is known as “phishing”.  A thief posing as a legitimate company contacts you (by email or phone) requiring your URGENT response for personal account information. A legitimate company will NEVER call or email you and ask you to provide them with this information!

• So how do you spot a phishing email? You might receive an Email that looks like the real website of an online service (Yahoo!, AOL, Ebay, Paypal, etc), or a Financial Institution asking you to provide your personal information.

• A bogus email typically requires your immediate response to UPDATE/VALIDATE your “account” or to stop fraud activity. The email links to a false website- that looks very much the same as the real one- hoping to gain your personal information without you giving it a second thought.

• What do you do if you receive a Phishing Email? Do not respond to it.  Do not click on the link. Contact the Federal Trade Commission, FBI and/or the AntiPhishing work group (see links).

• If you are unsure about the validity of an email, make contact with the company in question by phone or by typing the correct address in the address bar- never the link in the email.

Links:

www.consumer.gov/idtheft

www.antiphishing.org

www.fbi.gov

NATIONAL CU NEWS

Alert members to false ATM robbery e-mails circulating
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is recommending that credit unions alert their staff and members to an inaccurate rumor currently spreading among consumers. An e-mail currently circulating indicates that if a person is being robbed while at an ATM, that entering their personal identification number backward will summon the police. The FBI advises that this is completely false and could lead to a robber becoming impatient and angry, and potentially leading to violence. Credit unions are being asked to assist in dispelling the rumor by informing their members. Contact FBI Special Agent Harry Trombitas with any questions or for assistance with preparing a security advisory for members at (614) 744-2168 or htrombit@leo.gov.