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If
You Catch This Phish, Release It! |
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The
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the target of
yet another phishing scam. Phishing perpetrators send convincing
e-mail or pop-up messages that claim to be from a financial
institution you may deal with - including a credit union. The
latest phishing e-mail is addressed to "Dear CU holder account,"
and says, "your Credit Union bank has joined our Federal Credit
Union (FCU) network." There is no such network. It then asks
the recipient to activate an online account, using Social Security
number and credit/debit card PIN. The e-mail's subject line
reads "Confirm Your NCUA Identity" and uses graphics and text
similar to the regulator's website. It claims to be from the
"NCUA Account Review Department." It also tries to draw in recipients
with the claim "Please understand that this is a security measure
intended to protect you and your account."
The federal regulator emphasizes on its website the importance
of not responding to these e-mails. Anyone who receives an e-mail
that purports to be from NCUA and asks for account information
should consider it to be a fraudulent attempt to obtain their
personal account data for an illegal purpose and should not
follow the instructions in the e-mail. |
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Direct
Deposit - A Safer, Easier Way to Get Your Benefits |
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If
you receive your Social Security, SSI or other federal benefit
by check, you should think about switching to direct deposit.
It's safer, easier and gives you more control over your money.
With direct deposit, your payment goes straight into your checking
or savings account, so your money is there on your payment day
- on time, every time. Direct deposit also protects you from
fraud, lost checks and identity theft. In fact, no direct deposit
payment has ever been lost or stolen.
The U.S.Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve
Bank have made signing up for direct deposit easier than ever
with a new campaign, called "Go Direct." Cornerstone Community
FCU is pleased to support Go Direct, a program that reaches
out to people who could benefit from direct deposit through
organizations they know and trust.
To sign up today, or for more information, call Go Direct at
1-800 -333 -1795, or visit
www.GoDirect.org. |
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Top
Tips for ATM use |
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Tip
1: Where possible, use ATMs with which you are most familiar.
Alternatively, choose well-lit, well-placed ATMs where you feel
comfortable. |
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Tip
2: Scan the whole ATM area before you approach it. Avoid
using the ATM altogether if there are any suspicious-looking individuals
around or if it looks too isolated or unsafe |
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Tip 3: Avoid
opening your purse, bag or wallet while in line for the ATM. Have
your card ready in your hand before you approach the ATM. |
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Tip 4: Notice
if anything looks unusual or suspicious about the ATM indicating
it might have been altered. If the ATM appears to have any attachments
to the card slot or key pad, do not use it. Check for unusual
instructions on the display screen and for suspicious blank screens.
If you suspect that the ATM has been interfered with, proceed
to another ATM and inform the credit union. |
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Tip 5: Avoid
ATMs which have messages or signs fixed to them indicating that
the screen directions have been changed, especially if the message
is posted over the card reader. Credit unions and other ATM owners
will not put up messages directing you to specific ATMs, nor would
they direct you to use an ATM which has been altered. |
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Tip 6: Be especially
cautious when strangers offer to help you at an ATM, even if your
card is stuck or you are experiencing difficulty with the transaction.
You should not allow anyone to distract you while you are at the
ATM. |
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Tip 7: Check
that other individuals in the line keep an acceptable distance
from you. Be on the look-out for individuals who might be watching
you enter your PIN. |
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Tip 8: Stand
close to the ATM and shield the keypad with your hand when keying
in your PIN (you may wish to use the knuckle of your middle finger
to key in the PIN). |
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Tip 9: Follow
the instructions on the display screen, e.g. do not key in your
PIN until the ATM requests you to do so. |
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Tip 10: If
you feel the ATM is not working normally, press the Cancel key
and withdraw your card and then proceed to another ATM, reporting
the matter to your financial institution. |
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Tip 11: Never
force your card into the card slot. |
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Tip 12: Keep
your printed transaction record so that you can compare your ATM
receipts to your monthly statement. |
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Tip 13: If your
card gets jammed, retained or lost, or if you are interfered with
at an ATM, report this immediately to the credit union and/or
police using the help line provided or nearest phone. |
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Tip 14: Do not
be in a hurry during the transaction, and carefully secure your
card & cash in your wallet, handbag or pocket before leaving
the ATM. |
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Tip 15: Memorize
your PIN (if you must write it down, do so in a disguised manner
and never carry it with your card). |
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Tip 16: NEVER
disclose your PIN to anyone, whether to family member, credit
union staff or police. |
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Tip 17: Do not
use obvious and guessable numbers for your PIN like your date
of birth. |
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Tip 18: Change
your PIN periodically, and, if you think it may have been compromised,
change it immediately. |
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Tip 19: Set your
daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch at levels you consider
reasonable. |
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Tip 20: Regularly
check your account balance and financial statements and report
any discrepancies to Cornerstone immediately. |
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Check 21 |
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What does the term “Check
21” mean?
In October 2004, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act
– or Check 21 – changed the way checks are cleared
in today’s financial world. |
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What does Check 21 mean
to me?
In addition to increased security and less cost associated
with check processing, Cornerstone members will experience much
faster processing of checks via the use of a “substitute
check.” |
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How does Check 21 work?
As its legal equivalent, the actual check is “replaced”
by an electronic image, which is then immediately transferred
for clearance. The new way in which Check 21 allows for check
clearing will result in less “lag time” between
when a check is written and when it is processed against your
checking account funds. |
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Where can I learn more
about Check 21?
A Cornerstone member services representative will be happy
to answer your additional questions about Check 21 today! |
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Identity Theft:
What You Should Know |
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Identity thieves are good at what
they do because they work hard at it. To keep even the most motivated
identity thief from wrongfully obtaining your information, here
are a few helpful hints to remember. |
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- Monitor your bank statements every month
- Order your credit report twice a year and check for discrepancies…immediately
correct any mistakes by written request**
- Shred all paperwork with identifying information before
throwing it away…the best thing to do is buy a cross-cut
shredder, or use scissors to cut papers in strips top to bottom
- Be aware of when new or renewed credit cards should arrive
in the mail
- Use fictitious words (and NOT your mother’s maiden
name) as passwords on all accounts
- Do your homework…ask doctors, banks, etc. what they
do with your personal information and how they dispose of
it
- Do not put your phone number or social security number
on checks
- Install firewall and anti-virus software on your computer
- Submit credit card information on the Internet ONLY if
it is encrypted on a secure site…check for the “closed
padlock” symbol in the bottom corner of the screen
- Do not give personal or account information over the phone
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**You could be eligible for a
free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies:
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Equifax
www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111
Experian
www.experian.com 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion
www.transunion.com 1-800-916-8800
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