New Online Scams Target Wisconsin's Two Million Credit Union Members
A new “phishing” scam aims to prey on members of credit unions — not-for-profit, member-owned financial institutions that have more than two million members in Wisconsin.
Several members of a Wisconsin credit union received an email questionnaire recently that prompted them to “take part in a quick and easy 5 question survey” and offered to credit $100 to member accounts for doing so. Following the questions, members were prompted for personal information — including account numbers and passwords. The message appeared to be generated by the credit union’s online services department.
Though the credit union alerted its members upon discovering the scam, it is unclear how many individuals may have fallen victim to this growing form of identity theft.
Similar “questionnaire” scams, he adds, have been reported by credit union members in Illinois and Minnesota.
Consumers who are concerned they may have received this solicitation should contact their credit union as well as the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT.
The Wisconsin Credit Union League offers the following tips to avoid phishing:
- Don’t trust links provided in email messages. Even if the web and email address mentioned in a solicitation appear to match the official URL of the credit union, the link may actually redirect to a spoofed site. To ensure a site is legitimate, always type the Web address yourself and bookmark a link in your browser for future use.
- Seek security first. When you’re on a site you trust, look for a padlock icon on the browser’s status bar — the bottom bar of the viewing screen — not in the content of the webpage. Or, ensure the web address begins with “https” before submitting personal information.
- Avoid providing account numbers and passwords via telephone or email. It’s generally not a good idea to discuss account information in phone or email conversations. If someone who contacts you asks sensitive questions, say you will call them back (using their phone number as listed) or stop in.
- Use anti-virus software and keep it updated. Updated computer security — including a firewall — can protect you from accepting fraudulent files and alert you to unsafe or unsecured Internet transactions. Download free software patches to maximize protection.
- Review your statements. Track your monthly transactions to ensure there aren’t any unauthorized charges to your account.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If you receive a message that offers a reward or promotion, check it out carefully before responding.
August 29, 2006
Alert: Counterfeit Checks Bearing the Aflac Name Are Being Used as Part of a Lottery Scam
It has been reported that counterfeit checks bearing the Aflac name are being circulated with a
letter that reportedly claims the recipient has won money from an international lottery company.
Aflac has notified the Canadian Police, FBI, Better Business Bureau and Office of Consumer Affairs of this crime.
Please be advised that Aflac is not associated with any lottery. Aflac urge consumers NOT to cash the check, it has not been authorized by Aflac and will not be honored by any financial institution.
AT&T Offers Credit Monitoring Service to Customers Whose Credit Cards Were Accessed
AT&T Inc. today said that unauthorized persons illegally hacked into a computer system and
accessed personal data, including credit card information, from several thousand customers who purchased DSL equipment through the company’s online Web store.
The unauthorized electronic access took place over the weekend, was discovered within hours and the online store was shut down immediately. AT&T also quickly notified the major credit card companies whose customer accounts were involved. The company is also working with law enforcement to investigate the incident and pursue the perpetrators.
Customer notifications are ongoing by email, phone and letter to fewer than 19,000 customers. In addition to notifying those customers who were affected, the company will pay for credit monitoring services to assist in protecting the customers involved.
Customers who have been affected have been provided with a toll-free number to call for more information.