Fraud

Identity Theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

Deter...identity thieves by safeguarding your information.

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them
• Protect your social security number. Don't carry your social security card in your wallet or write your social security number on a check
• Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier
• Don't give your personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the internet unless you know who you are dealing with
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date
• Don't use obvious passwords like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your social security number
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house

Detect...suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements. Be alert to signs that require immediate attention.

• Bills that do not arrive as expected
• Unexpected credit cards or account statements
• Denials of credit for no apparent reason
• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

Inspect...

• Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
• Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.

Defend...against identity theft as soon as you suspect it.

Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review the reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting agencies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:
Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-680-7289

Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.

• Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently
• Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or charged without your okay. Follow up in writing, with supporting documents
• Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged
• Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft
• File a police report with law enforcement officials to help with creditors who may want proof of the crime

Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations
Online: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft
Phone: 877-ID-THEFT
Mail: Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

Free Credit Score Resources

You are entitled to a FREE copy of your credit report every year! http://www.annualcreditreport.com/

Equifax
P.O.Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
800-685-1111

Experian
P.O.Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013-0949
888-397-3742

Trans Union
P.O.Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
800-888-4213

Senior financial exploitation, fraud or improper use of senior's resources for another's profit or advantage is illegal. Exploitation usually involves someone the senior knows, such as a family member or caregiver. Fraud is usually perpetrated by a stranger, such as a telemarketer or investment promoter.

Members have reported that an unknown number is calling them stating that their debit card is up for reissue and to confirm their information. Luckily the members ended the call and notified the credit union right away. Please be aware that this scam is going around and you should not discuss your account information with the scammers or call the phone number back. If your credit union is calling you regarding your debit card it will come from our local phone numbers or the suspicious activity tracking service the credit union contracts with. For reference, the suspicious activity calls will come from a 877-253-8964, the service will provide the card’s last four digits, and a case number. If you are still suspicious please contact Card Services at 207-783-2096, we have access to a log of all members the suspicious activity tracking service has reached out to. Another recent scam is Caller ID Spoofing. This is where a scammer spoofs or uses a local business phone number and pretends to be that business calling. If you answer the phone and the caller - or recording - asks you to hit a button to stop getting calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets. Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes" or "No". Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security Numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. Use caution if you are being pressured for information. If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request.

Please be aware of another internet scam called the LogMeIn Scam. The way the scam works is as follows: you receive a call on your home or office phone line and the scammer confirms you use a computer (they may or may not have your email address or something for valid information to confirm). Then they proceed to ask you to download the program LogMeIn, which gives them access to your computer and any of your data on the computer. This is a scam and you should not allow the scammers access to your computer and reputable companies typically would not contact you in this manner for an unprompted service call.

Are you being phished? - Don't be a victim

In a phishing attack, a fraudster spams the Internet with an e-mail claiming to be from a reputable financial institution or e-commerce site. The e-mail message urges the recipient to click on a link to update their personal file or carry out some transaction. The link takes the victim to a fake website designed to look like the real thing. However, any personal or financial information entered is routed directly to a scammer.

How to protect yourself from phishing

• Be aware of any email that asks you to provide any personal, sensitive information, either via e-mail or at a web site
• Your credit union will NEVER ask for sensitive information about you in an e-mail
• Tell us if you think you have received a fraudulent e-mail

This phone scam is pretty slick since the scammers provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard telephone credit card scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

The scam works like this - caller: 'this is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297.00 to $497.00, just under the $500.00 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for security.'

You will need to refer to this control number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say no, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do,' and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number but after the call, you call back within 20 minutes to ask a question. The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 digit PIN number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

If you receive this call you can simply hang up and file a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police say they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urge us to tell everyone we know that this scam is happening. As always you can contact our Card Services Department with questions, 207-783-2096.

We have been notified that some members are receiving automated calls saying they are from Community Credit Union and wanting to verify account information. Please know that this is a SCAM!!! Do not follow any of the prompts or provide any of your personal information. Community Credit Union would never call and ask for your personal information or for you to verify account information in this manner. Please call the credit union with any questions at 207-783-2096.

Recently many debit and credit card users experienced fraudulent charges caused by a possible breach in a merchant’s system. First and foremost, please know that you can always give us a call to discuss any issues or questions you may have.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind.

• Members have zero liability as all signature-based transactions are protected by zero liability fraud protection so no member will lose any money as result of any fraud that has or may occur
• We have a number of advanced fraud protection and fraud prevention systems in place that operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to identify and eliminate fraudulent card activity
• We have reissued cards that have been or could have been involved in any fraudulent activity associated with any breach
• Remember to always protect yourself and watch out for fraudulent or unusual activity: monitor and review your accounts on a regular basis and report any unusual charges and activity; do not give out any personal information via phone or email, as financial institutions and/or credit card companies will not ask for this information in this manner; report any suspicious solicitations and activity to your financial institution and local authorities

The Maine Credit Union League has been notified that a phishing scam involving text messages is currently affecting credit union members. The text message indicates that the members ATM Card has been frozen. The member is asked to call a 1-866 number to reactivate their card by entering the full 16-digit card number and their PIN. THIS IS A SCAM and one of the most recent forms of phishing attempts for personal financial information.

Community Credit Union will attempt to contact you regarding fraud on your account through our fraud monitoring text message system.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to avoid being compromised.

• A text alert from us warning of suspicious activity on your card will NEVER include a link to be clicked. Never click on a link in a text message that is supposedly from us. A valid notification will provide information about the suspect transaction and ask the cardholder to reply to the text message with answers such as ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘help’, or ‘stop’. It will never include a link.
• A text alert from us will always be from a 5-digit number and NOT a 10-digit number resembling a phone number.
• A phone call from our institution’s automated dialer will only include a request for your zip code, and no other personal information, unless you confirm that a transaction is fraudulent. Only then will you be transferred to an agent who will ask questions to confirm that you are the actual cardholder before going through your transactions with you. If at any point you are uncertain about questions being asked or the call itself, hang up and call us directly. If a call is received by the cardholder, claiming to be our call center and asking to verify transactions, no information should have to be provided by the cardholder other than their zip code, and a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the transaction provided.
• We will NEVER ask you for your PIN or the 3-digit security code on the back of your card. Don’t give them out to anyone, no matter what they say. Hang up and call us directly. Fraudsters will often ask cardholders to verify fake transactions. When the cardholder says no, they did not perform those transactions, the fraudster then says that their card will be blocked, a new card will be issued, and that they need the card’s PIN to put it on the new card. Many people believe this and provide their PIN. The 3-digit CV2 code on the back of the card will allow a fraudster to conduct card-not-present transactions.
• Regularly check your account online to see if there are any suspicious transactions that have occurred, but especially If you are unsure about a call or text message you’ve received. If anything looks amiss, call us directly for assistance.
• If you have received a voice- or a text-message from us and are unsure about responding to it, call us directly for assistance.