ID Theft Prevention
U.S. Department of Justice data shows that identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in America. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes and to get credit in your name. Because we are committed to your financial safety, we feel you need to know the latest info to keep yourself and your accounts safe.
How fraudsters obtain personal information:
- Dumpster Diving: Going through trash to find bills and papers with personal information on it.
- Phishing: Posing as financial institutions or companies like eBay or PayPal and sending spam or pop-up messages to get consumers to reveal personal information. Can also be in the form of text messages asking for your personal information or asking you to call a "fake" phone number or visit a "fake" website.
Cybersecurity Information
Due to the recent increase in victims reporting fraud / scams, law enforcement agencies have posted to exercise caution.
Below is a list of strategies used by criminals and criminal enterprises to access funds:
*Corrupt Emails / Internet interruptions or "pop ups"
*Incoming cellular calls
*Incoming Text Messages
*Intercepted mail containing written personal checks
*Online purchases
*IRS tax refunds
*Social Media Relationship Requests
*Bitcoin
Corrupt Emails / Internet interruptions may come in the form of a "pop up" locking your computer. It will inform you that shutting off your computer will cause a loss of computer data and advise you of a number to call. This pop up may also instruct you to enter a credit card to rectify the alleged virus. Do not follow any of these instructions or enter personal financial information. They would not be asking for additional information if they already had what they needed. Make sure you have your computer backed up and shut it off regardless of what they’re advising you.
Receiving incoming cellular calls has been the most popular. These calls can come in the form of representatives advising you that you have an outstanding arrest warrant. They will identify themselves as an officer which is often an actual local officer's name they have researched online. If you have a warrant, typically you're going to be aware of it and we will come to you...no one is going to call you. The calls may also inform you that you have missed jury duty and payment will prevent incarceration or you have a family member in need of emergency surgery which requires payment to proceed. Never provide your debit/credit card information over the phone unless you have made the call and you're confident who you're speaking to.
Incoming Text Messages- any unexpected/unknown texts with URL links are typically scam attempts. The most recent example is fraudulent requests for traffic tolls. Do not open links from unknown sources.
Intercepted mail has become increasingly popular. Suspects steal or obtain your outgoing mail and use a chemical wash to remove the ink. The “Pay to the Order of” section is changed to an account fraudulently opened by the suspect. The check typically gets cashed through a mobile deposit. Generally, this is an account set up temporarily using fraudulent information or to an overseas criminal enterprise.
"Too good to be true” items for sale on posts or marketplace are typically fraudulent and are literally, too good to be true.
IRS Tax Refunds should only be done through protected sites set up and researched by you. Do not complete your taxes on “pop-up” links. Using a tax professional in person is typically the safest option.
Social Media relationships are a growing trend suspects are using to extort money using vulnerability. Those individuals seeking on-line relationships should confirm who they are associating with through research. Meeting in-person is the best way to confirm you are engaging with the individual you’re communicating with. However, always use caution to prevent placing yourself in danger with a violent predator. You should NEVER send money, gift cards, bitcoin, or any forms of currency during an on-line only relationship. If they are asking you for money, you are likely not talking to who you think you are.
In closing, make sure you have fraud protection set up on all your financial accounts. Do not provide personal information to anyone you do not personally know and run credit checks occasionally to ensure you are not compromised. If anyone is advising you that their request for funds is through Bitcoin, it’s almost always fraudulent.
Beware of Brushing Scam
A recent scam has been showing up in many states. A "brushing" scam is when someone receives an unexpected gift or item not ordered in the mail from a place like Amazon or another company. Examples of gifts include rings, bracelets, necklaces, Bluetooth speaker, etc. The gift will have the recipient’s address but not include the sender's information or be from a known retailer. When the recipient opens the package to see what it is and possibly who sent it, there is a QR code to scan to find out who sent the gift.
Once the code is scanned, all the information from that phone will be sent to scammers. They receive all access to the phone. All personal and financial information is accessible to the scammers and often the victim's bank accounts are drained.
The gift can be kept or thrown away, but the QR code should NOT be scanned for any reason. QR code scams are nothing new. These scams show up in all places, including parking meters.
Avoid scanning any unknown QR codes included in a package or on an unknown item, location.
To stay safe, use the app store to download and install any applications. Use QR codes only from trusted sources. Avoid mail and fliers that have QR codes.
Internet Cookie Tips & Info Sheet
EFCU Debit Card
Lost/Stolen 1-800-528-2273
Visa® Credit Card
Lost/Stolen 1-800-449-7728
If out of the country call collect at 1-727-299-2449
Visa® Travel Money Card
Lost/Stolen 1-800-763-3370
Track your spending or dispute fraudulent transactions on your TravelMoney® Card online. www.innovativecardservices.com
Evansville Federal Credit Union wishes to notify you of the following alert(s):
Phishing Alert
We've gotten phone calls from members who are receiving a fraudulent automated phone call that are advising them their credit or debit card has been compromised and asking them to enter their 16 digit card number. This is fraud - we would never contact you to ask for your credit or debit card number. If we suspect that a debit or credit card has been compromised, we will contact you, but not with an automated call and we would not ask you to give us your card number or any other financial information. Please be cautious and never give out your personal or financial information to an unsolicited phone call, email and/or text.
Email Fraud Alert
We've seen some spam emails that appear to be from EFCU and are asking you to open and run an attached file. These emails are NOT from us. Evansville Federal Credit Union will NEVER send emails or texts asking you to download and run a file or submit your personal and/or financial information. Please do not open or run the file - it is spam.
Wire Alert
The financial industry has recently encountered an increase in fraudulent wire transfer activity. Some instances of fraud activity have occurred via telephone and fax communications where the fraudster has forwarded an unsuspecting consumer’s phone number to the fraudster’s phone number. The fraudster then calls in or faxes in wire transfer requests and when the financial institution calls to confirm the information, the fraudster is answering the call, not the consumer.
To protect you, Evansville Federal Credit Union may request additional verification information from phone and fax wire transfer requests. To prevent a call forwarding service being set up on your phone number, contact your phone provider to find out how to have this service blocked or password protected.
Online shopping offers many benefits for gift givers who prefer to steer clear of the traditional shopping experience. Make your online shopping as safe as possible:
- Shop with merchants you know and trust.
- Always use a credit card online.
- Make sure the transaction is secure - look for the padlock icon in your browser window frame and the "https://" in the URL when you go to the checkout page.
- Confirm the bottom line price, shipping schedule, and return policy.
- Regularly check your accounts and billing statements. Be suspicious of bills that don’t arrive as usual, unexpected bills or account statements, and calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
Q: Can anyone else see my accounts over the Internet?
A: EFCU uses the latest technology to keep your account information secure. Security features exist at every level-from your PC, to the Internet, and over our secure network. The following features are offered for full security:
- password protection
- Enhanced Login Security
- lockout-access is denied after the fifth consecutive invalid login
- timeout-account Access automatically logs off after a designated period of time
- exit button-exits Internet Bill Payment and Account Access
- cache security-ensures that no one can view a member's account information by accessing the cache file
- encrypted URL-ensures that any account information that appears in the URL is not readable
- SSL (secure sockets layer) protocol-allows for the transfer of digitally signed certificates for authentication procedures, and provides message integrity, ensuring that the data can't be altered during a transaction. In SSL protocol, Web addresses usually start with "https" instead of "http"
Q: What can I do to maximize the security provided for my account?
A: The e-Banking service has several effective security techniques that we encourage you to implement when you use the e-Banking service:
- Never reveal your password to anyone or leave your password anywhere that someone else can obtain and use it.
- Change your password on a regular basis.
- Use the Exit button to end each Internet banking session. Do not use the Back button to exit the site.
- Change your session timeout in User Options to a time that meets your needs.
- Balance your account on a regular basis. e-Banking makes it easy!
Your credit report contains information about you, what accounts you have, and your bill paying history. The three credit reporting companies are required to provide you a free copy of your credit report each year if you request it. To order your free reports, visit www.annualcreditreport.com.
