The Internet offers the potential for safe, convenient ways to shop for financial services and conduct credit union business, any day, any time. However, members need to make good online choices - decisions that may help avoid costly surprises and scams.

Here's an informative website - FakeChecks.org that provides helpfull tips concerning fake check scams, fraud tests, videos and prevention.

Recent fraud alerts and tips for protecting your personal information are provided below. You may also download:

 You Have the Power to Stop Identity Theft, NCUA, the Federal Reserve and the thrift regulatory agencies announced the availability of a revised ID theft brochure. (65KB)
Tips to Safely Conduct Financial Transactions Over the Internet, courtesy of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). (91.5KB)
Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft, provided by the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service (6.89MB)
Talking About Identity Theft: A How-to Guide, a workbook provided by the Federal Trade Commission (6.25MB)

To download Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here.


FTC, FDIC warn of phishing attacks

October 14, 2008 – The Federal Trade Commission last week warned that phishers are taking advantage of the recent upheavals in the financial services industry to launch attacks on consumers by fraudulently posing as the financial institution that recently acquired their institution or mortgage company.

The warning noted that the e-mails may ask consumers to update, validate or confirm their account or other personal information following the acquisition of their financial institution.

The FTC suggests that consumers avoid replying to e-mail or pop-up messages asking for personal or financial information. Additionally, the agency cautions that some scammers are sending prerecorded telephone messages asking consumers for a return call to update personal information. In these cases, the agency suggests consumers call the number on their financial account statements.

In addition to the FTC warning, the FDIC also told consumers last week of fraudulent e-mails appearing to be from the agency with the subject line, “Funds wired into your account are stolen.”  The e-mail asks recipients to open and review an attached file. That file, the agency says, is actually an executable file that contains malicious code or software.

The FDIC said that recipients of these fraudulent e-mails should not respond or open the attached file. The agency also noted reports that say antivirus software programs have been detecting and removing the malicious attachment before the e-mail is delivered. However, if the attachment is opened, the FDIC recommends updating antivirus software patches and performing a complete scan of the computer and network.

Beware of Credit Union Phishing Attacks

July 31, 2008 - Financial Center is aware of several recent phishing attacks using a variation on the credit union's name. Please be reminded that Financial Center will never ask for your confidential account information via e-mail. 

If you receive a questionable e-mail, please forward it to Phishing@fcfcu.com.

If you have any further questions, please contact Member Services at 317.916.7700 or 1.800.473.2328.

FBI Warns of IRS Stimulus Scam

June 11, 2008 - The FBI issued an e-scam alert (back in May - hopefully this isn't too late!) that warns of a scam involving IRS stimulus payments. The FBI warns consumers of recently reported spam e-mail purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which is actually an attempt to steal consumer information. The e-mail advises the recipient that direct deposit is the fastest and easiest way to receive their economic stimulus tax rebate. The message contains a hyperlink to a fraudulent form which requests the recipient's personally identifiable information, including bank account information. To convince consumers to reply, the e-mail warns that a failure to complete the form in a timely manner will delay the issuance of the rebate check.

One example of this IRS spam e-mail message is as follows:

"Over 130 million Americans will receive refunds as part of President Bush's program to jumpstart the economy. Our records indicate that you are qualified to receive the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund. The fastest and easiest way to receive your refund is by direct deposit to your checking/savings account. Please follow the link and fill out the form and submit before May 10th, 2008 to ensure that your refund will be processed as soon as possible. Submitting your form on May 10th, 2008 or later means that your refund will be delayed due to the volume of requests we anticipate for the Economic Stimulus Refund.
To access Economic Stimulus refund, please click here."

Consumers are advised that the IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications via e-mail. In addition, the IRS does not request detailed personal information via e-mail or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

Please be cautious of unsolicited e-mails. It is recommended not to open e-mails from unknown senders because they often contain viruses or other malicious software. It is also recommended to avoid clicking links in e-mails received from unknown senders as this is a popular method of directing victims to phishing websites.

IRS warns of new scams against taxpayers

April 24, 2008 - IRS has posted new warnings about phone and e-mail scams, both tied to this year’s economic stimulus payments and tax season, by fraudsters seeking to acquire taxpayers’ financial institution account numbers and other sensitive data.

In one of the scenarios, people have been contacted by phone and told by the caller that they need to provide their account numbers in order to get the stimulus payments. But IRS isn’t calling or e-mailing people for this information; it’s making the payments based on information in taxpayers’ tax returns.

In another case, people are receiving an e-mail with a link to a form where recipients are told they must provide information to receive their payments by direct deposit. IRS says the senders are probably really trying to get recipients’ personal and financial information so they can clean out their accounts. And taxpayers that want to receive tax refunds, or stimulus payment, by direct deposit are already instructed to provide the required information on their tax returns, it notes.

STOP - THINK - CLICK
7 Practices for Safer Computing

August 13, 2007 - OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

1. Protect your personal information. It's valuable.
2. Know who you're dealing with.
3. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly.
4. Be sure to set up your operating sustem and Web browser software properly, and update them regularly.
5. Protect your passwords.
6. Back up important files.
7. Learn who to contact if something goes wrong online.

Read more about the 7 Practices or visit OnGuardOnline.gov.

What You Need to Know About Phishing

Financial Center is committed to ensuring account privacy and security. Part of this commitment is through member education. You can protect your private information by practicing good security habits and reporting any suspicious contacts either via email, phone or the U.S. Postal service.

Financial Center does not contact our members via e-mail to verify or request account numbers, PINs, or other security information. If you receive an email requesting personal information, consider it fraudulant and DO NOT respond with any personal information and forward this email to Phishing@fcfcu.com.

Protect your personal information:

• Use caution in selecting your PIN number and passwords.
• Be cautious about revealing account numbers, Social Security or Tax I.D. numbers and other private information to other persons.
• Protect your account numbers, card numbers, PINs and passwords.
• Regularly log into your online accounts and don't wait for as long as a month before you check each account.
• Never give out personal data through the mail or via an e-mail solicitation unless you have initiated the contact. Avoid filling our forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information. You should only communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information via a secure website or the telephone.
• Do not email confidential information to the credit union using your personal e-mail accounts. You may email us using our Secure Contact Center Form at https://apps.fcfcu.com/contactForm.html.
• Additionally, we have provided an Identity Theft Coach which coaches you to safeguard personal and financial records from fraud and identity theft. Click on the Identity Theft Coach icon for more information.
• If you have been a victim of a phishing attack, a report can be filed with the Internet Crime Complaint Center run by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.