 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
| Home > Fraud Alerts |
| |
|
Credit unions across the country are reporting that their member’s are receiving unsolicited text messages. It’s an attempt at Smishing, the latest form of phishing. In Smishing, an e-mail tries to lure a recipient into giving personal information via SMS, the communications protocol used to send text messages to a wireless device. The recent scam is targeting credit union and other financial institution members.
In smishing, the members receive a text message via cell phone warning that their bank account has been closed due to suspicious activity. It then tells them they need to call a certain phone number to reactivate the account. Unsuspecting callers who dial the number provided in the text message will be taken to an automated voice mail box that prompts them to key in their credit card or debit card number, expiration date, and PIN to verify their information. If you have a question concerning your account or credit/debit card, contact your financial institution using a telephone number obtained independently, such as the phone number from your statement, a telephone book, or other independent means. Loss Prevention Recommendations: 。e wary of any message received from an unknown sender. ．o not open unsolicited e-mails or text messages. ．o not click on any links provided in unsolicited e-mails. ．on’t display your wireless phone number or e-mail address in public. This includes newsgroups, chat rooms, Web sites, or membership directories. ！f you open an unwanted message, send a stop or opt out message in response. ，heck the privacy policy when submitting your wireless phone number or e-mail address to any Web site. Find out if the policy allows the company to sell your information. ，ontact your wireless or Internet service provider about unwanted messages New Email Scam Impersonating FDIC The FDIC released information about an e-mail claiming to be from that agency. Although the FDIC does not cover account insurance for credit unions, members may still receive this phishing e-mail and believe it to be true. The FDIC has received a number of reports of a phishing e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC.
This e-mail asks "Who is FDIC?" and "What can FDIC do for you?" It warns against identity theft and states that the "FDIC is presenting a new card insurance which can restore you up to $500 if you are a victim of Internet fraud." The e-mail directs recipients to click on a link to be redirected to "an online signup page for this program."
This e-mail is a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information from consumers. Consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mail and, under any circumstances, not provide any personal information through this media. SOMETHING VISHY It’s one of the latest breakthroughs in telecommunications—Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, which enables telephone calls over the web. And guess who’s hopping on the VoIP bandwagon along with millions of legitimate customers? Criminals, that’s who. They’re using the technology to hijack identities and steal money. It already has a name: “vishing.” Residents of Vishing is really just a new take on an old scam—phishing. You know the drill: you get an e-mail that claims to be from your bank or credit card company asking you to update your account information and passwords (perhaps, it says cleverly, because of fraudulent activity) by clicking on a link to what appears to be a legit website. Don’t do it, of course. It’s just a ruse, nothing more than an illegal identity theft collection system. SCAM ARCHITECTURE 1. A consumer receives a pre-recorded call identifying a specific local financial institution. The message informs the consumer that his or her personal bank accounts have been frozen. The message advises the consumer to immediately input their ATM or debit card number, expiration date, and PIN to reactivate the affected accounts. CV2 from the back of the card may also be requested. 2. Calls appear to be made from various telephone numbers. The automated phone calls are most likely being made from a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone service using various telephone numbers that are attributed to this scam. 3. Unauthorized ATM withdrawals are occurring immediately in Crooks use rebate checks to snare victims ATLANTA (2/11/08)--Crooks are drumming up new ways to heist money from victims' financial accounts. Some of those scams use the government's new economic stimulus package's proposed rebate checks as bait (Associated Press via CNNMoney.com).
Despite well-publicized warnings, victims unwittingly hand over personal information--such as account numbers or Social Security numbers. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials warn that a variety of scams could be around through the end of the tax season and beyond (irs.gov Jan. 30).
Be on the lookout for these phone and e-mail scams:
Bottom line: Don't let rebate-check anticipation cloud your senses. If a tax preparer tries to convince you to take out a short-term advance loan on your stimulus rebate check, just say no. Consumer advocates expect these loan products--which carry excessive interest rates typically aimed at people who can't afford them--to pop up as soon as rebate checks are in the mail. Global 'Fake Check' Seizures Continue In a continuing effort to crack down on international scammers looking to fatten their wallets while draining the bank accounts of American consumers, law enforcement partners working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service have seized tens of thousands of additional mailings bound for the United States and containing counterfeit checks. Today, a team of Canadian and U.S. fraud investigators based in Montreal, Quebec, announced the seizure of more than 50,000 pieces of mail containing fake checks with a face value totaling nearly $195 million. The announcement was made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who spearheaded “Project Colt,” a cross-border partnership aimed at disrupting and preventing fraud. Postal Inspectors have been members of the partnership since its inception in 1998, along with other federal agencies in the United States and Canada. Most of the letters were addressed to U.S. recipients. The seizures were made by Canada Post in coordination with the RCMP. No arrests have yet been made, and the investigation is continuing. The mail contains a letter telling the recipient they’ve won a cash prize of up to $50,000 in an international promotional campaign and includes a $2,000 to $5,000 check. To collect the full amount of their “prize,” the recipient is asked to cash the check and quickly return all or part of the proceeds, usually via wire transfer, to pay for “an international administration fee” of some type. By the time the check is found to be fake, the scammer has the money and the recipient is on the hook to their bank to repay the amount. “Although more than 600,000 fake checks have been seized since the global initiative to stop these scams began earlier this year, the scammers have not stopped trying,” said Chief Postal Inspector Alexander Lazaroff. “We are grateful to the RCMP for continuing to lead this cross-border partnership, which aims to keep these scams from reaching U.S. and Canadian consumers and maintain their confidence in the mail.” Postal Inspectors warn there is no legitimate reason for any contest promoter, business, or organization to send you a check and ask that it be cashed and wired back to them--especially for a promotional campaign or contest you never entered. Learn more about check scams by visiting the Web site www.FakeChecks.org. If you receive a letter containing a check and you suspect fraud, don’t cash the check. Instead, report it to Postal Inspectors at www.FakeChecks.org, or by telephoning 1-800-372-8347. Fight Identity Theft and Protect Yourself Did you know that you can now get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three main credit reporting bureaus once every 12 months, thanks to a 2004 amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. To streamline the process the three major credit bureaus have set up a central Web site, toll-free telephone number, and mailing address for you to use to order your free credit reports.
The three credit reporting bureaus will not send you an email or call you asking you for personal information, so don't respond to such requests. They are probably scams. If you receive an email that appears to be from a credit bureau, don't click on any of the links in the email. If you receive a phone call, don't give out any personal information. Use only the Web site listed above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Privacy Policy Privacy Statement Disclosures Design & Hosting by Harland Financial Solutions, Inc. Browser Requirements Copyright ｩ Harland Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
 |
|
|
