North Alabama Educators Credit Union

"Phishing" and Fraud Alerts

HERE ARE SOME METHODS USED TO SCAM CONSUMERS

E-MAIL “PHISHING”
Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is a scam to steal valuable information such as credit card and Social Security numbers, user IDs, and passwords. In phishing, also known as "brand spoofing," an official-looking e-mail is sent to potential victims pretending to be from their ISP, credit union, bank, or retail establishment. E-mails can be sent to people on selected lists or on any list, and the scammers expect some percentage of recipients will actually have an account with the real organization.

LAND LINE TELEPHONE “VISHING” & VoIP (INTERNET PHONES “VISHING”)
Vishing, (Voice phISHING) also called "VoIP phishing for the Internet phones," is the voice counterpart to phishing. Instead of being directed by e-mail to a Web site, an e-mail message asks the user to make a telephone call. The call triggers a voice response system that asks for the user's card number or other personal or financial information. The initial bait can also be a telephone call with a recording that instructs the user to phone an 800 number or another area code within or outside of the United States.

In either case, because people are used to entering card numbers over the phone, this technique can be effective. Voice over IP (VoIP) is used for vishing because caller IDs can be spoofed and the entire operation can be brought up and taken down in a short time, compared to a land line telephone.

TEXT MESSAGE “SMISHING”
Smishing (SMS phISHING) is the mobile phone counterpart to phishing. Instead of being directed by e-mail to a Web site, a text message is sent to the user's cell phone or other mobile device with some ploy to click on a link. The link causes a Trojan to be installed in the cell phone or other mobile device.

New!  Mail LETTER “PHISHING”
This new scam occurs where the phisher is creating a letter and sending it through the mail to individuals to respond to the letter by calling a phone number. The phisher outlines in the letter that the individual must respond for their own protection. This scam is used in conjunction with other channels to steal valuable personal and financial information of the individual receiving the letter.

How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Scams:

Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is over the phone, mail, or over the Internet. E-mails and Internet pages created by phishers may look exactly like the real thing. They may even have a fake padlock that ordinarily is used to denote a secure site. If you did not initiate the communication, you should never provide any information.

If you believe the contact may be legitimate, contact the financial institution or organization yourself at a published telephone number. You can find phone numbers on account statements, phone books, or on the Internet. The key is that you should be the one to initiate the contact, using contact information you have verified yourself.

Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited Internet request. A financial institution would never ask you to verify your account information online or over the phone in an unsolicited manner.

Review account statements regularly to ensure all transactions are correct. If your account statement is late in arriving, contact your financial institution to find out why. If your institution offers electronic access, periodically review account activity online to catch suspicious activity.

If you feel that your personal information has been compromised, contact your financial institution immediately. Suspicious contacts should also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft , or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.

FBI COUNTERFEIT CHECK ALERT CHECKLIST:

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has prepared the following checklist to assist consumers from becoming a victim. If you can answer "YES" to any of the following questions, you could be involved in a FRAUD or about to be SCAMMED!

Is the CHECK from an item you sold on the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?

Is the amount of the CHECK more than the item's selling price?

Did you receive the CHECK via an overnight delivery service?

Is the CHECK connected to communicating with someone by email?

Is the CHECK drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?

Have you been informed that you were the winner of a LOTTERY, such as Canadian, Australian, El Gordo, or El Mundo, that you did not enter?

Have you been instructed to "WIRE", "SEND", or "SHIP" money as soon as possible to a large U.S. city or to another country, such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Have you been asked to PAY money to receive a deposit from another country such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?

Are you receiving PAY or COMMISSION for facilitating money transfers through your account?