Americo Federal Credit Union will NEVER call you by phone or send you an  e-mail requesting your credit union user name, password, pin number, or other  personal  identity information.

For information on how to protect yourself from Identity Theft,
or if you believe you've been a victim of Identity Theft, click  here

FRAUD ALERT

Some of our members received a suspicious automated phone call Tuesday evening, October 21st, stating their debit card was suspended and asked the recipients to enter their debit card information.

Please do no give out this information, Americo FCU will NEVER ask you for personal information via phone, email or a text message.  If you entered your debit card or personal information, please contact the credit union at 814 833-0433 ext 214.

10/22/08

SCAM ALERT Regarding Economic Stimulus Payments

The IRS has issued an alert about scams involving the economic stimulus payments.  The most recent scams include:

Rebate Phone Call
Someone  identifying himself as an IRS employee calls the consumer and tells the targeted victim that he is eligible for a sizable rebate for filing his taxes early.  The caller then states that he needs the target's bank account information for the direct deposit of the rebate.  If the target refuses, he is told that he cannot receive the rebate.

Paper Check Phone Call
In a current telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who is calling because the IRS sent a check to the individual being called.  The caller states that because the check has not been cashed, the IRS wants to verify the individual's bank account number.

Refund e-mail
The bogus e-mail falsely claims to come from the IRS, tells the recipient that he or she is eligible for a tax refund for a specific amount, and instructs the recipient to click on a link in the e-mail to access a refund claim form.  The form asks the recipient to enter personal information that the scamsters can then use to access the e-mail recipient's bank or credit card account.

Audit e-mail
This technique will get almost anyone's attention.  This phony e-mail notifies the recipient that his or her tax return will be audited.  The IRS does not send unsolicited, tax-account related e-mails to taxpayers.

What to Do
     DO NOT GIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION

     If you receive a questionable e-mail or telephone call claiming to come from the IRS, you may forward it to phishing@irs.gov, using instructions contained in an article titled "How to Protect Yourself from Suspicious e-mails or Phishing Schemes".  Following the instructions will help the IRS track the suspicious e-mail to its origins and shut down the scam.

MasterCard Credit Card
To report a lost or stolen MasterCard Credit Card, call the credit union at 814-833-0433 during normal business hours or you may call Customer Service at 1-866-604-0381 or 1-727-570-4881 anytime day or night.

MasterCard Debit Card
To report a lost or stolen MasterCard Debit Card, call the credit union at 814-833-0433 during normal business hours or call STAR Customer Service st 1-800-523-4175 anytime day or night.

ATM Card
To report a lost or stolen ATM card, call the credit union office at 814-833-0433 during normal business hours or call STAR Customer Service at 1-800-523-4164 anytime day or night.

If you suspect you're the victim of identity theft, you should also contact these agencies:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Identity Theft Hotline: 877-438-4338
www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Social Security Administration's fraud hotline
1-800-269-0271

Credit Bureau fraud hotlines
Equifax:  1-800-525-6285
Experian:  1-888-397-3742
TransUnion:  1-800-680-7289
   

1.   Tell them that you're an identity theft victim.  Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file, as well as a "victim's statement" asking that the creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts.  This can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. 

2.  File a police report with your local police, or the police in the area where the identity theft took place.  Having a copy of the police report can help you when dealing with creditors.

3.  Close any accounts that have been tempered with or opened fraudulently.  Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each creditor and follow up with a letter.  It's particularly important to notify credit card companies in writing because that's the consumer protection procedure the law spells out for resolving errors on credit card billing statements.  

Safeguard your personal information
Americo Federal Credit Union wants to help you safeguard your financial information.  Fraud is a sad fact of life, and the damage is enormous.  The potential damage to your personal credit and financial history often takes years to repair. Criminals are finding new ways to steal your private information and identity.  While you cannot entirely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk.

• Trust your instincts - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Always read the fine print.
• Never provide personal information or passwords over the phone.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails.  You will never receive any kind of emails from us asking for personal identifying information.  Reputable organizations will not request account numbers or passwords unless you, the consumer, initiated the transaction.
• Protect Social Security Numbers, financial account numbers, PIN numbers and other identifiable personal information.  
• Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so think twice about what information you want to email.  If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization's web site, look for indicatiors that the site is secure, like a padlock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a web site that begins with "https:" (the "s" stands for "secure"). 
• Mail payments from a safe location.  Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
• Check your monthly credit union account statements and those of any creditor with whom you do business (credit card companies, etc) to verify all transactions. 
• Be aware of current scam tactics.
• If you believe you've been scammed, be sure to report it to your local police department, all financial institutions where you may have an account, all three credit bureaus, the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission.

                                                   For more information, click here to visit
                                                      The Federal Trade Commission website

Consumer Tips for Safe Shopping Online 

1.  Know your merchant
It's a good practive to be familiar with the name or reputation of any company you're dealing with.  You can often find helpful information about online companies from Internet news sources, directories, and rating services.  The Federal Trade Commission maintains a web site (www.consumer.gov) that provides many buyer's guides, lists of tips, and links to helpful resources.

2.  Protect your privacy
Know what information the merchant is collecting about you, how it will be used, and if they share it with or sell it to others.  You can do this by checking the web site to make sure there is a privacy policy posted, and that you're comfortable with the way your personal information is treated under that policy.  Be cautious if you're asked to supply personal information not needed to make purchases, such as your Social Security number or personal bank account information.

3.  Get the details
Check for expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policies, and other important information.  Look for an email address to write to (or a phone number to call) if you have a question, a problem, or if you need help.

4.  Use a credit card and safeguard your password
It's a good practice to pay with credit cards, because under federal law (and your credit card agreement) your liability for an unauthorized charge is generally limited to $50.  When using a credit card online, look for an unbroken key or padlock (a graphical icon usually located in the bottom corner of the web page), or for  a policy that indicates use of strong security technology such as SSL.  This indicates that your credit card data is transmitted securely.  Keep your passwords safe, and don't share them with other people. 

5.  Keep good records
Make sure to print or save electronically any records related to your online transactions.  This will help you keep track of shipping dates, shipping and handling fees, and other details of your transactions.

6.  Turn your computer off when you're finished shopping
Many people leave their computers running 24/7, the dream scenario for scammers who want to install malicious software on your machine and then control it remotely to commit cyber crime.  To be extra safe, switch off your computer when you are not using it.

To file a complaint about a fraudulent business practice or to get free information on how to spot, stop, or avoid one, call the Federal Trade Commission, toll-free at 1-877-382-4357 or visit www.ftc.gov and click on "Consumer Protection."