Email Phishing Scam

May 11, 2011 We were made aware of a phishing scam perpetrated by individuals who are claiming to be representatives of Florida State University Credit Union (FSUCU). Fraudsters may send you an email that looks like it has come from FSUCU. These emails ask you to go to a website through a link within the email. The website may also look like FSUCU's website, and there you will be asked to provide your confidential information.

This is called "Phishing" or "Spoofing" and it is the most common type of online fraud. Fraudsters send these Phishing messages to a large list of random email addresses, hoping to reach a few members with the email. The Spoof websites are designed to steal personal and financial information.

It is very important to remember that Florida State University Credit Union never asks for personal information through text message, email or by phone. Emails may contain links to our website or other sites related to our industry. If you prefer not to use the link in the email, please visit our website by typing our web address into your web browser. Please contact us immediately if you ever have questions or concerns about suspicious emails you may have received from us.

Fraudulent Cashier's Check

July 2010 If you receive an email or letter saying you won a lottery and they send you a check? Or you sold something on Ebay and the buyer paid with a check? Or you took out a loan from a distant or online bank and they sent you a check? You can just take the check to your bank and cash it right? WRONG! Click here to learn more. And what is worse, if you cash it, in most states in the US, you may be guilty of passing a counterfeit check, money laundering or worse. Clark Howard did a piece on his radio show about a man in California who was arrested for cashing a bogus check. In other words, by merely attempting to cash the check, you could go to federal prison! Here is an actual example:

I got a letter from a "Western Marketing Inc." requesting that I be a secret shopper. They mailed a check in the amount of $1,995 to cover my training, the service charge and fees for shopping. The letter instructed me to deposit the check and wire $1,500 back to them. I deposited the check and once my bank cleared it I moneygramed money to them and a week later their check bounced. Now I have to repay back my bank!

Usually, the scammers will claim that you have to use the money from the first check to pay "fees" and "taxes" before you get the big payout. Gullible people assume that since they receive a real check (counterfeit) it must be legitimate. Remember, ANYONE can print a check, that doesn't mean that the account is real or the money is there! The "you won our lottery" scam is the most common means used by these scammers, but you must be suspicious of ANY check your receive from an unknown or unexpected source.

Actions to Protect Yourself
Here’s how to avoid a counterfeit check scam:

• Don't pay by check! Credit cards are much safer.
• Never pay any "fees" for prizes. Throw away any offer that asks you to pay for a prize or a gift. If it’s free or a gift, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Free is free.
• Do NOT to enter foreign lotteries. It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery through the mail or the telephone, and most foreign lottery solicitations are phony.
• Never wire money to strangers. If a "lottery", "promotion" or buyer insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately. Legitimate buyers don’t pressure you to send money by wire transfer services. In addition, you have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction.
• If you’re selling something, don’t accept a check for more than the selling price, no matter how tempting the offer or how convincing the story. Ask the buyer to write the check for the correct amount. If the buyer refuses to send the correct amount, return the check. Don’t send the merchandise.
• Only take checks from local banks - If you accept payment by check, ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a bank with a local branch. That way, you can make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid. If that’s not possible, call the bank where the check was purchased, and ask if it is valid. Get the bank’s phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the check or from the person who gave you the check.
• Resist any pressure to “act now.” If the lottery is real or the buyer’s offer is good now, it should be good after the check clears.

Quick Summary: What Can you Do?
You can check the name of the issuing bank on the check with the names of banks that have reported stolen checks and you can call the bank to

• verify that the account number on the check is legitimate and
• matches the name on the check and
• has sufficient funds.
You can go to this website and verify the routing number on the check and get the bank's phone number, then call the bank to verify that the account is real and the check is real.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with the U.S. government Internet Fraud Complaints Center

Fraudulent Text Message

December 2009 Your first defense against identity thieves and other scam artists is being aware of the fraudulent activity that may be taking place. A fraudulent text message is being sent to FSUCU members. The message states that "your account has become deactivated." A telephone number is provided for the member to call. Once called, a recorded message asks for your debit card number and PIN.

FSUCU will never contact you requesting sensitive financial or personal identity information. If you receive an unexpected e-mail, phone call, letter, text message, etc., in which you are asked for your personal or financial information, do not give the information. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If you should mistakenly give your debit card information to these scammers, please call and have the card blocked immediately!

Click here for information on IDENTITY THEFT.