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Kern Schools Federal Credit Union is your partner in financial security and would like to offer the following advice on things you can do to help prevent becoming a victim of fraud.
First and foremost, never, ever give personal information out over the phone or via email unless you have initiated the contact and are certain whom you are providing the information to. Your CU will never initiate a request for account, social security or PIN information via email or over the phone. Be cautious of telephone or on-line solicitors. Your personal information should remain private. | 
Click here
to contact our
Fraud Prevention Unit
by E-Mail
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| | NACHA Phishing Alert (11/12/2009)
E-mail Claiming to be from NACHA
NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association has received reports that individuals and/or
companies have received a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of having been sent from NACHA.
The subject line of the e-mail states: “Rejected ACH Transaction.” The e-mail includes a link which redirects the individual to a fake web page which appears like the NACHA Web site and contains a link which is almost certainly executable virus with malware. Do not click on the link. Both the e-mail and the related Web site are fraudulent.
Be aware that phishing e-mails frequently have links to Web pages that host malicious code and software. Do not follow Web links in unsolicited e-mails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.
If you receive this e-mail please do not click on the link. Both the e-mail and the related Web site are fraudulent. Visit www.nacha.org for more information.
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| | Credit Card Text Messaging and Phone Scams
Phone Scam
There is currently a phone scam targeting financial institutions across the country where members receive a call stating there are problems with their credit or debit card and to call a toll-free number. Callers are instructed to "press 1" to re-activate their card. The system then prompts the caller to enter his or her card number, expiration date, and verification code.
This is a scam! Kern Schools Federal Credit Union will never call requesting members to enter confidential information to re-activate their accounts or cards.
Text Messaging Scam
There is currently a credit card text messaging scam targeting financial institutions across the country. The text message instructs the recipient to call a toll-free number regarding a suspicious authorization. Once the number is called, the system solicits cardholder information.
This text message is a scam and the text messages were not authorized by Kern Schools Federal Credit Union in any way. If you have received this text message, please do not call the toll-free number and provide information.
Kern Schools Federal Credit Union will never ask you for personal or account information by sending a text message or requesting that you click a link in an email.
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FBI Foreign Country Fraud | |
| | If you receive a letter from Nigeria, Canada or any other foreign country asking you to send personal or banking information, do not reply in any manner. Send the letter to the U.S. Secret Service, your local FBI office, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. You can also register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel.
If you know someone who is corresponding in one of these schemes, encourage that person to contact the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service as soon as possible.
Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
Guard your account information carefully.
Click Here for more fraud alert information on the FBI website.
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| | Some Tips to Avoid Impersonation/Identity Fraud:
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Never throw away ATM receipts, credit statements, credit cards, or bank statements in a usable form. |
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Never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call. |
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Reconcile your bank account monthly and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately. |
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Keep a list of telephone numbers to call to report the loss or theft of your wallet, credit cards, etc. |
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Report unauthorized financial transactions to your bank, credit card company, and the police as soon as you detect them. |
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Review a copy of your credit report at least once each year. Notify the credit bureau in writing of any questionable entries and follow through until they are explained or removed. |
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If your identity has been assumed, ask the credit bureau to print a statement to that effect in your credit report. |
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If you know of anyone who receives mail from credit card companies or banks in the names of others, report it to local or federal law enforcement authorities. |
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Click Here to file complaints with different agencies.
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| | Avoiding Credit Card Fraud
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Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you some assurance. |
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Don't trust a site just because it claims to be secure. |
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Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses. |
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Put cash away immediately after dispensed from the ATM. |
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Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source. |
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Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate. |
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Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working. |
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Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account. |
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Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information. |
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Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area. |
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Check out other web sites regarding this person/company. |
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Don’t judge a person/company by their web site. |
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Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail). |
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Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country. |
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The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong. |
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Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers. |
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You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately. |
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| | Some Do's and Dont's
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Order a copy of your credit report each year from one of the national credit bureaus and review it closely for any questionable entries; |
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Shred or cut up all credit card receipts and old bank statements and bills before throwing them away; |
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Close all unused credit card or bank accounts; |
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Remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit lines and telemarketers; |
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Keep your PIN number hidden when you use an ATM or public telephone; |
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Contact your creditor or service provider if you notice odd charges or if expected bills don’t arrive; |
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Update your computer virus software, use a secure browser, and install a firewall program. |
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Give out personal information via the phone, mail, or Internet unless YOU initiated contact; |
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Carry information like your Social Security Number (SSN) or any PIN numbers or passwords in your purse or wallet; |
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Put your SSN on your checks or other identifiers. |
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| | If your identity HAS been stolen, we urge you to take immediate action:
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Place a fraud alert on your credit file by notifying one of the national credit bureaus; |
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Contact all creditors and financial institutions that an identity thief may have used to conduct transactions in your name and close all tampered accounts; |
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Contact your local police department, as well as your local FBI field office, and file a report; |
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File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (the FBI and other law enforcement agencies use these complaints in their investigations). Online identity thefts may also be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). |
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BE AWARE and manage your personal information carefully!
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| | Credit Reporting Agencies Contact Information:
Equifax
www.equifax.com
PO BOX 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
1-800-525-6285
Experian
www.experian.com
PO BOX 9532
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
Trans Union
www.transunion.com
PO BOX 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
1-800-680-7289
U.S. Federal Trade Commission
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Toll free: (877) 438-4338
To report identity theft of your DL/ID information, call this toll free number:
1-866-658-5758
Or you can email this information to:
DLFraud@dmv.ca.gov
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| | Other Tips
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