ALERT!
Don't Get PHISHED!
PEOPLES Community Credit Union will NEVER
send you an e-mail or letter asking for your account
numbers, usernames, passwords or social security
number. If you get a message like that - DON'T
BITE! & REPORT IT.
Scam Notice. Recently two Minnesota credit unions were affected by a scam
that sends e-mails to those who are supposedly the credit unions' "customers"
and offers $100 for answering a five-question survey. The phishers are spoofing
the "from" field so that the e-mails appear to be legitimate messages from your
credit union.
Be wary when prompted for personal information
If you're ever prompted to give personal information online (or anywhere else, for
that matter!) think twice before responding. Con artists are going "phishing" -
sending mass e-mails to unsuspecting consumers, urging them to visit legitimate-
looking web sites that prompt users to divulge personal or account information.
The sites are fakes. They're "live" on the internet just long enough to capture
details about you or your account so that thieves can assume your identity -
allowing them to obtain credit cards, take out loans, get a driver's license and
more, all in your name. This can result in damage to your financial history and
reputation that can take years to correct. These fraudulent e-mails often appear
to have come from a company you've done business with - they appear authentic
and often times include familiar company logos. Other times, e-mails appear to
come from a government agency, such as a financial institution regulatory agency.
The message warns of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention.
It may use phrases such as "Immediate attention required," or "Please contact us
immediately about your account." The e-mail contains a link to the phony web site
(sometimes it may link to a company's actual web site, but a pop-up window
appears solely to harvest your personal information). Users are often asked to
update account information or to provide information for "verification purposes" -
such as your name. In some cases, con artists have even placed ads in
newspapers directing consumers to phony sites. Regardless of how they get you
there, their goal is the same - get as much information as they can.
Protect Yourself!
Never respond to unsolicited requests for information. Whether over the
phone, in an e-mail or on a web site, NEVER give personal information if you
haven't initiated the contact. Legitimate businessess won't ask for this kind of
information. PEOPLES Community Credit Union - and credit union-related
organizations such as the Minnesota Credit Union Network, the Credit Union
National Association (CUNA) and the National Credit Union Administration
(NCUA) - will never ask consumers for information in an unsolicited
communication.
Verify the legitimacy of anyone contacting you. Even if the
communication supplies contact information, look up phone numbers and web sites
yourself on PEOPLES Community Credit Union's monthly statements. Or, look
up other companies in a phone book or on the internet. The key is that you initiate
the contact, using information you verify yourself.
Review account statements regularly. If your statement is late arriving, call
us to find out why. It's also a great idea to use our online account access to review
your account activity to catch suspicious transactions. Sign up for E-Statements
and receive your account statement electronically instead of waiting for it to arrive
by mail. E-Statements are a safe, convenient and FREE option that allows you to
view, download, save or print our account statements at your convenience.
Report it. If you fall victim, alert us immediately. Also, contact one of the three
major credit bureaus - Equifax (800-525-6285), Experian (888-397-3742) or
TransUnion (800-680-7289) - to determine whether to place a fraud alert in your
file. This could help stop thieves from opening accounts in your name. Finally, the
NCUA recommends notifying the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (created by
the FBI) at www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
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