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Security Update

Fraudulent Check Alert

Co-op Credit Union has learned that our corporate checks have been used as a model for counterfeit checks and are being used in three different scams:

1.  Australian Lottery Scam.  Checks are dated 3/7/08 and later, and for $3,950 or similar amounts.  The checks are for the “Insurance Payment” on your prize winnings of $84,000 or some other large amount from RIZ Global, Sidney, Australia.  The letters show a North American Regional Office in Alberta Canada, and are from a “Prize Disbursement Manager” named Arthur.  The letters have instructions to call a “Claims Analyst” named Frank. 

2.  North American Ballot Sweepstakes.  Checks have been dated 3/11/08 and later, and for $3,990 or similar amounts.  The scam is the same as above, the check is for insurance/processing fees and you are to call “well-trained Claim Analysts” named Amy, Timothy, Amber, or others for assistance. They warn of a security code on the check. The company name is FEXCO Global and sometimes an additional company name is added as well. 

3.  Mystique Shopper Survey.  Checks are dated 3/20/08 and later, and are for $2,730 to $2,850 or similar amounts. This check is to cover costs of about six shopping assignments on which you are to complete a service evaluation. Typically the assignments include $50 or more at Wal-mart, $50 or more at Sears, some spent at McDonald’s or Wendy’s and then the scam is the request to send two large amounts back to them, one by Money Gram and one by Western Union.  The check they sent you is a worthless fraudulent counterfeit, but the money you would be sending them would be your own good money.  This letter may come from a “Human Resources Manager” named Arthur, (same as in #1 above) and includes a copy of a “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” and the evaluation form.  The letter may show a company address in Alberta, Canada.

If you receive a check from one of these scams, please do not respond or send any money!  You will suffer the loss due to the scam because you are responsible for the checks you deposit.  Instead, report the check to your local authorities.

Identity Theft
Lost/Stolen Cards
Keeping Your Identity Safe
Security Alerts




 

Identity Theft:
If you have been a victim of identity theft, there are four immediate steps to take:

1.  Place a fraud alert on your credit report. This alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before opening any new accounts.

The three credit reporting agencies are Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union.  Contact them to report fraud, or obtain a FREE copy of your credit report.  You can also obtain a FREE copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com, or by calling
(877) FACTACT.  You should review your credit report once a year to check for fraudulent activity.

2.  Close any accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with, or opened fraudulently.

3.  File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.  Click here or call (877) 438-4338.  You may print a copy of your complaint to provide standard information to your local police
department.

4.  File a complaint with your local police department.  Provide them a copy of your FTC report.

For more helpful tips and guidelines read the Federal Trade Commission's "Take Charge:  Fighting Back Against Identity Theft."


Provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.  Click here for more info.

Lost/Stolen Cards:
Lost/Stolen MasterCard Hotline:
24 Hours in US:  (800) 808-7230
Worldwide:        (727) 570-4881
     Good only 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday - Friday US Eastern
     time.  No long distance charge.
24 Hour Worldwide Customer Service:  (608) 836-2613

Lost/Stolen EZ Access Debit or ATM Card Hotline:
Please call Co-op Credit Union during normal business hours.
After Hours/Weekends:  (800) 554-8969
     Some countries do allow toll free calls to this phone number,
     some do not.  If your attempt fails, and it's after credit union
     hours, the recommended solution is phoning a family member
     or trusted friend stateside to report the lost or stolen card.



Keeping Your Identity Safe:
There are a number of things you can do on a daily basis to keep your personal information protected.




~ Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with.  Identity thieves are clever, and before you know it you've given out card numbers, account numbers and passwords!

~ Place passwords on your accounts and credit cards.  Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, birthdates, or the last four digits of your phone or social security number.

~ Treat your mail and trash carefully.  Shred anything containing personal financial information.

~ Review credit card and account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges.  If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or financial institution to confirm your billing address and account balances.

~ Give out your social security number only when necessary - ask to use other types of identification instead.

~ Never share personal or confidential information via e-mail.

~ Disable the feature on your computer that allows passwords to
be saved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lookstoogoodtobetrue.com was built to educate you, the consumer, and help prevent you from becoming a victim of an Internet fraud scheme. The website was developed and is maintained by a joint federal law enforcement and industry task force. Funding for the site has been provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Key partners include the National White Collar Crime Center, Monster.com, Target and members of the Merchants Risk Council.  Check it out!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Security Alerts:
Fake Caller ID Numbers
In a new phishing scam, con artists are using phony caller ID numbers to solicit personal information and money.  Thanks to the phony caller IDs, the "spoofers" are able to convince victims that they're receiving a call from a credit union, bank, or credit card company.  The scammers use this technique to acquire sensitive personal and financial information, or even money, from their victims.

The frightening aspect of this scam is that few people would ever think that the names and phone numbers appearing on their caller ID  screens were not genuine. The problem has reached a point where Sen. Bill Nelson from Florida is sponsoring legislation to ban the transmission of fake caller ID numbers.

To prevent falling victim to this scam, do not assume that the information displayed on your phone regarding who the caller is is accurate.  It can easily be spoofed.  Don't give out personal or financial information over the phone unless you know EXACTLY whom you're dealing with.  If you're in doubt, hang up and call back using the number on record for your financial or credit card company.  Remember, your credit union will never call asking you for personal account information!

Fraudulent Checks
Still popular is the "here's this check, but I need you to issue a separate payment to another party" scam.  It can be under the pretense of a purchase of goods you have placed for sale on the internet - or a prize you have supposedly won.  The check you receive in these scams turns out to be worthless.  You suffer the loss because you are responsible for the checks you deposit. 

Another twist involves used vehicles or motorcycles overseas sold on the internet asking you for an "advance" or "transportation fee" from "DHL" and "Lufthansa Cargo".  The vehicle will never be delivered.  The safe thing to do is question any transaction that seems abnormal to you.

Phishing:
This is the practice of enticing victims to click on an e-mail link that leads to a false web site resembling or duplicating a legitimate site for the purpose of gaining personal financial information. Fraudsters are even taking advantage of the new multi-factor security system enrollments as a guise to lead consumers to false sites and gain account number and password information. 

Do not provide personal information to a site that has placed a link in an e-mail to you...or a phone number contained in an e-mail.  The fraudsters may be posing as, for example, the Social Security Administration, or the National Credit Union Administration.  They may state, for example, that "your benefits may be stopped unless"...or "your credit union account may be in danger because...so give me your account number so I can verify". 

The bottom line is, unless you've initiated a contact by a phone number or web address you know to be correct, do not give out any personal information.

 

 For your convenience, this site includes links to other 3rd parties. Co-op Credit Union does not endorse or guarantee these 3rd party sites. The products and services offered on 3rd party sites, including investment and insurance products, are not products of Co-op Credit Union and may be insured by the NCUA or FDIC.  Co-op Credit Union does not maintain or control privacy or security on these sites, and as such, makes no guarantees as to the privacy of any information you may provide or disclose while on these sites.

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