A. Fradulent Correspondence ("Phishing")
Sterlent will not ask you to disclose sensitive personal information in unsolicited e-mails, telephone or calls or instant messages.
Be aware of fraudulent correspondence (“Phishing”). With the heightened media attention regarding the theft of personal data, many consumers and investors are expressing concern over the privacy and integrity of their personal data. For that reason, it is important to address the subject known as “phishing.”
Phishing is a type of fraud in which e-mail messages, instant messages and websites are used to deceive individuals into providing confidential, personal information. The term itself is a play-on-words for “fishing,” the “ph” representing “password harvesting” — the idea that people will “take the bait” that is set for them and disclose personal information that can be used for credit card fraud and other serious violations of their privacy.
Phony e-mails generally appear to be sent from legitimate companies, asking users to either reply or link to a web page to update their personal information or risk closing or suspension of their accounts. The phony e-mails sometimes contain the company’s logo and even an address. Among the data typically requested are the user’s name and address; Social Security number; account numbers and passwords; bank account and credit card information—sometimes even the account holder’s mother’s maiden name, or other private information used for security purposes.
CONTACT US
If you believe you have received a fraudulent e-mail or other contact, please forward the unchanged Phishing e-mail and/or details to marketing@sterlentcu.org. In order to ensure the best response, Sterlent Credit Union will investigate it.
Do not provide any sensitive personal information in the e-mail, e.g. your bank account details.
Q. How to protect yourself from Phishing?
Sterlent will not ask you to disclose sensitive personal information in unsolicited e-mails, telephone or calls or instant messages.
Be aware of fraudulent correspondence (“Phishing”). With the heightened media attention regarding the theft of personal data, many consumers and investors are expressing concern over the privacy and integrity of their personal data. For that reason, it is important to address the subject known as “phishing.”
Phishing is a type of fraud in which e-mail messages, instant messages and websites are used to deceive individuals into providing confidential, personal information. The term itself is a play-on-words for “fishing,” the “ph” representing “password harvesting” — the idea that people will “take the bait” that is set for them and disclose personal information that can be used for credit card fraud and other serious violations of their privacy.
Phony e-mails generally appear to be sent from legitimate companies, asking users to either reply or link to a web page to update their personal information or risk closing or suspension of their accounts. The phony e-mails sometimes contain the company’s logo and even an address. Among the data typically requested are the user’s name and address; Social Security number; account numbers and passwords; bank account and credit card information—sometimes even the account holder’s mother’s maiden name, or other private information used for security purposes.
CONTACT US
If you believe you have received a fraudulent e-mail or other contact, please forward the unchanged Phishing e-mail and/or details to marketing@sterlentcu.org. In order to ensure the best response, Sterlent Credit Union will investigate it.
Do not provide any sensitive personal information in the e-mail, e.g. your bank account details.
A. Here are measures you can take to avoid getting “hooked”:
Q. How do most people find out that they are a victim of ID theft?
- Be alert to any unexpected e-mail, instant message, voicemail or fax that claims to be from a bank, credit card or on-line company with whom you have an account and asks for sensitive personal information. In the event that you do receive such a message, it’s a good idea to first call the customer service number on your bank, credit card or on-line statement (but not any number listed in the message) and verify whether the message is legitimate.
- Do not respond to any e-mail, phone or fax instructions that prompt you to divulge your personal information.
- Do not click on any links in a suspicious email. Clicking on such a link may cause the download of key logging or “spyware” software on your computer
- Regularly log into your online banking, credit or debit card, or other accounts and reconcile your statement balances to ensure that all transactions are legitimate. Similarly, always review your account statements to check for unauthorized charges.
- Use up-to-date anti-virus software.
- Spam filters and even “anti-phishing” software are available to help screen out potential phishers on websites and e-mails.
A. Usually when they apply for a mortgage, a car loan, insurance, even a new cell phone, anytime
credit checks and FICO scores determine creditworthiness
and the interest rate scores determine creditworthiness.
That is why we want every Sterlent member and their
family practicing prevention. Identity thieves aren't
waiting, we can't afford to wait either.
Q. How much of identity theft occurs from using
the computer?
A. No one knows the amount lost to identity thieves
through the computer because the computer is used
in so many different ways by identity thieves. The
identity thief uses the computer to research, gather,
buy and sell information. In the case of "phishing" thieves are reducing time and improving efficiency
in gathering the data since you provided it to them
directly. Right now people responding to phishing
emails at a rate of about 5% while the spam response
rate is below 1%.
The term phishing is used to describe fraudulent emails that appear to come from a legitimate financial institution or other organization and try to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive data such as social security and account numbers. For example, a recent scam involves CitiBank where an identity thief sent an email to thousands of addresses requesting the recipient to validate sensitive account information. The email appeared authentic since it was professionally written and even included a color CitiBank logo. Most (if not all) financial institutions will never ask you to verify sensitive personal data via an email.
Q. What items need/should be shredded?
The term phishing is used to describe fraudulent emails that appear to come from a legitimate financial institution or other organization and try to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive data such as social security and account numbers. For example, a recent scam involves CitiBank where an identity thief sent an email to thousands of addresses requesting the recipient to validate sensitive account information. The email appeared authentic since it was professionally written and even included a color CitiBank logo. Most (if not all) financial institutions will never ask you to verify sensitive personal data via an email.
A. Shred anything that is transactional in nature like statements, invoices and credit card receipts.
If you need to retain the documents, place those
in a safety deposit box. Please only use a cross-cut
shredder since documents that have been strip-cut
can easily be put back together revealing your personal
and financial information.
On a historical note, the Iranian Government was able to reassemble critical US information that had been strip-cut during the Iranian Revolution with the help of rug weavers.
Q. Why is it smart to use a separate credit card
to guarantee hotel/car reservations?
On a historical note, the Iranian Government was able to reassemble critical US information that had been strip-cut during the Iranian Revolution with the help of rug weavers.
A. Allowing your main credit card numbers to rest
in the databases of the companies that bill later
(after use) means that the information can be hacked
or used or potentially sold by their personnel.
The companies want your credit card number in advance
to "reserve" the funds so the money is
available when they call for it. Having a credit
or debit card just for these purposes protects the
amount you can lose while insuring there is no connection to your total credit or main accounts.
Open a credit card or debit card limiting your preset limit and use it only for these purposes. In this manner, in a worst-case situation, you won't lose more than you can afford to lose.
Open a credit card or debit card limiting your preset limit and use it only for these purposes. In this manner, in a worst-case situation, you won't lose more than you can afford to lose.
