 Scams and Fraud
Click on the links below to navigate to informative and
helpful information concerning fraud:
Phone Scam Alert
We have been made aware
of a telephone scam that is targeting credit unions throughout the
country.
Targeted credit union
members are receiving an automated message claiming that their credit
union has suspended their VISA card and is instructing them to call an
800 number to reactivate the card.
When the consumer calls
the number, they are prompted to dial in their account number,
expiration date and pin number. They are then instructed to press "1" to
reactivate the card.
Duplicate cards are being
created in Spain and used to withdraw cash or make purchases.
Please remember - if
there is a problem with your card you will be contacted by a credit
union member service rep or one of our fraud monitoring agent. If the
call comes from our fraud monitoring agent, they will already have your
account number and other pertinent information. They will not need your
PIN or expiration date.
If you have been a target
for this or any scam that may have led to your account information to be
compromised, please notify a credit union representative as soon as
possible.
What can YOU do?
-
NEVER call a number received in a spam email and NEVER
enter any private information if you do call. If you're not sure if the
email is spam, call the number on the back of your credit/debit/check
card or the number listed on your billing statement. If it's legitimate,
you will be directed accordingly.
-
Never click on the link provided in an email you believe is
fraudulent. If you wish to check your account online, use the web-links
provided by your financial institution NOT the link provided in the email.
-
Do not open attachments from unsolicited e-mails unless you can
verify specifically where it came from.
-
Do not be intimidated by an email or caller who suggests dire
consequences if you don't give them your information. Do call your local
office/branch to confirm any unsolicited phone calls you may have received
asking for your information.
If you wish to file a complaint or incident contact the Internet
Fraud Center at
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/cf1.asp
An additional resource is the Anti-Phishing Work Group at
http://www.antiphishing.org/index.html
What does the
Credit Union do to protect your information?
Whenever you use the internet to visit the credit union where your personal
information will be displayed, you are entering a
secure area. We take the following security measure to ensure your
information is safe:
-
Password Protection - If you need to change your personal information in
your online banking account, you must access your account using your
userid and password. We would never send you a link and ask you to
update any information on file with us.
-
Encryption - Our site uses 128 - bit encryption. Look for a closed lock on
any website where you are required to enter financial/personal information.
If you don't see the lock, DON'T enter your information.
-
Privacy Policies - We have a stringent privacy and security policy which can
be viewed at anytime from our online banking web site.
What can YOU do to
protect yourself?
-
Passwords - Keep your passwords safe. Don't use a password that is easy for
others to guess. Instead - use a password that contains a variety of letters
and numbers, or just numbers. Make it a point to change your password
regularly.
-
Anti-virus
Software - Install it. Use it. Keep it current.
-
Firewalls
- A firewall acts like a protective shell between your computer and the rest of
the outside world. It helps reduce threats to your home computer from the
internet by filtering out potentially dangerous data and unauthorized access to
your computer. Be sure you keep your firewall updated as well.
-
Operating
Systems - You should regularly check for security updates and keep your system
updated.
-
Disconnect
- They can't get in if you're not connected. Turn your computer off or at least
disconnect from the internet when you are not using it.
-
Back up
your data - Even if you follow all of the above, protect yourself from loss of
critical data by backing up your files.
Be
Observant
-
E-Mail
- Before you open an e-mail attachment or click on a link, be sure that you
know where they came
from.
-
Be aware
of phishing - Criminals are copying websites and using a web address that are
deceptively close to the web address of a genuine business.
-
Web
address confusion - Again, criminals will obtain a web address that is
deceptively close to the genuine business, hoping that you'll miss-type the web
address and enter your personal information.
-
Because
identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United
States, the FDIC has produced a multimedia presentation to help consumers
protect themselves from identity theft. To access this presentation, "Don't Be
an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams",
please visit the following link:
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/guard/index.html
Notice to
All Members
We'd like to take a
moment to stress to our members the importance of
keeping your contact information current with not only your credit
union, but
with all of your financial institutions.
In the event that we
suspect fraudulent activity, it is important that we be
able to reach you as soon as possible. We wouldn't want to allow
fraud to
continue nor would we want to leave you stranded without access to
your
funds.
Your contact
information should be updated as soon as you move or change
addresses or home phone numbers. Updating your work phone when
you change jobs is equally as important.
Remember, MPO does not sell your
personal information to any outside source.
Information Change
Do's:
-
Inform us in
writing via fax or letter.
-
Follow up with a
phone call.
-
Watch for your
account statement.
-
Make sure that if
you have an MPO Visa credit or check card, you
let us know so that we can update that information too!
Information Change Don'ts:
-
DO NOT
EVER respond to an email from us asking you to update
your account information online. This should always be
considered
a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information. Please
contact us
immediately should you receive a request such as this.
-
Don't inform us
via email - it's not secure.
-
Don't just phone
call in the change - we need to have a written
document to keep on file.
-
Don't send someone
not on your account to do the change for you.
As always - please
contact us should you have any questions or concerns.
|
![[Under Construction]](images/undercon.gif)
