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Security Alerts
At Centra, we do all we can to protect our members from fraudulent activity. These links and alerts can help you protect yourself.
Scam alert: Bogus cell phone text messages
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (1/28/08)--Phone phishers -- unscrupulous callers who direct victims to a phony web site -- have changed their tune: Now they're using cell phone text messaging to lure you in (news-leader.com Jan. 16).
One recent bogus message sent to cell users in southwest Missouri warned recipients that their bank accounts had expired and that they should register at a web site. Crooks count on tricking a small percentage of uneducated consumers into releasing their account information, with disastrous consequences.
Internet scams -- particularly those that originate overseas -- are difficult to track down and prosecute. Your best bet is to stay alert and know how to protect yourself. Australian-based SCAMwatch.gov offers tips to stay safe:
- Stay alert. Don't reply to text messages that come from numbers you don't recognize or from people who aren't your contacts. That applies to missed calls, too.
- Beware numbers that begin with 1-900. These are premium numbers typically charged at a high rate. You may be charged just for receiving a message from 1-900 numbers via SMS (Short Messaging Service, or text message) or MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service, which extends text messaging to graphics, audio, video, photos or any combination -- within size limits). And if you're asked to reply to these messages by typing "X" and hitting the send button, you may be charged for a text message to a 1-900 number. Immediately call your carrier to complain.
- Don't show interest. Simply replying to a scammer opens the floodgates to receiving similar messages and calls.
- Check with friends first. Some text messages sound like they're from friends, but they're not. If the message is suspect, ask friends if they called or sent you a text message before you reply.
If you think you're a victim of a text message scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov, or call 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).
IRS E-MAIL SCAM ALERT
If you receive an e-mail message from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), with reasons why your refund might have been delayed, don't take the bait. The message probably is a phishing scam trying to get you to divulge personal information.
The IRS won't start an e-mail correspondence with taxpayers and won't ever ask for personal information within an e-mail message. It's feared that many taxpayers have received fraudulent IRS e-mails and clicked on bogus links thinking they were legitimate.
The scam includes an authentic-looking IRS header and sounds convincing:
After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $63.80. Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days in order to process it. A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons. For example, submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline. To access the form for your tax refund, please click here.
Don't click there! In fact, don't click anywhere within e-mail messages you weren't expecting. Here are more tips:
- Watch for misspellings and grammatical errors.
- Instead of clicking on links within e-mail messages, contact the financial institution or company directly - pick up the phone - or retype the legitimate URL in your browser.
- Avoid e-mailing personal and financial information.
- Use up-to-date antivirus software, spyware detection and removal software, and a firewall.
- Notify the credit union, financial institution or company immediately and report suspicious e-mail messages. Also, report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission. Send spam to spam@uce.gov, and file complaints at ftc.gov.
Internet security experts warn that deception techniques continue to get more sophisticated. As incidents of phishing attacks reach record levels, new tactics include keylogging - the surreptitious installation of computer codes that track user's keystrokes, and pharming - the practice of redirecting Internet domain name requests to illegitimate websites instead of to the website a user wants.
In both cases, the ultimate goal is to capture personal information and commit ID theft.
PHISHING SCAM ALERT
CUNA and CENTRA will never solicit emails requesting your credit union username, password, pin number, or other personal information.
A recent Phishing Scam involves false e-mails from CUNA informing members that they have detected a slight error in the billing information on file with CUNA. The e-mail requests you to update your billing information by going to a false website. The e-mail also states if the account information is not updated, your credit/debit card access will become restricted.
THIS IS A PHISHING SCAM. If you receive such an e-mail, DELETE THE MESSAGE!
CUNA is aware of this phishing scam.
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