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Fraud on the rise!
     

Economic Recession - Jobless Rate Climbing - Foreclosures

     
These are all headlines that we have seen over and over, however maybe the most important headline you never see is
     
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD
     
When times get tough and people start feeling a financial strain, that is when fraud activity increases preying on good people looking for an answer.  BE ON YOUR GUARD!  The best defense is to question everything.  Remember that you are responsible for your actions - even if someone "entices" you into a situation. 

The old and long standing cons and scams are running full force.  Plus we have heard of a new one.

You have won 480,000,000 in the Canadian lottery.  Just deposit this check for $.$$$.$$ to pay the taxes and western union the funds to.......  

Wrong - How can you WIN if you did not buy a ticket - Deposit the check, send the funds, and when the check is returned YOU will be responsible.

You are a winner in our sweepstakes - simply call ###-###-#### to claim your prize

Wrong again - The most recent scam is for you to call the number where the objective of the scammer is to keep you on the phone for as long as possible.  Sounds harmless, just wasting your time, right!  Wait until you get your phone bill, you are being charged for the call and they get the money.  It has been reported that one phone call for 24 min's cost the caller $120.00.

This is "so and so" from the fraud prevention department regarding questionable activity on your card, can you please verify that I am speaking to the cardholder by giving me the three digit code from the back of your card?

Give them the code - and fraudulent charges will be made and authorized before you hang up.  Your Credit Union does monitor card activity and our service providers may call to confirm transactions, however they will NEVER ask you for personal or card information - If they are calling on our behalf, they already have all the information they need.

If you think you may have received information that is a scam by mail, phone or email please contact your local police department.  If you have received a check in the mail that you did not request and someone wants you to send part of it by Western Union, DON'T DO IT.  99.99% of the time, the check will be returned unpaid and you will be liable for the funds.

 As a credit union, the worst phone call or letter that we have to send is to inform a member that their account is frozen or overdrawn thousands of dollars because a fraudulent check they deposited is being returned.