Credit unions across the
country are reporting that their member’s are receiving unsolicited text
messages. It’s an attempt at Smishing,
the latest form of phishing. In Smishing, an e-mail tries
to lure a recipient into giving personal information via text messaging. The
recent scam is targeting credit union and other financial institution
members.
In smishing, the members receive a text message
via cell phone warning that their bank account has been closed due to suspicious
activity. It then tells them they need to call a certain phone number
to reactivate the account.
Unsuspecting callers who dial the number provided in the text message
will be taken to an automated voice mail box that prompts them to key in their
credit card or debit card number, expiration date, and PIN to verify their information. This
is how they obtain your information.
If you have a question regarding this matter or
have been a victim of this already please
contact our member services department by phone
or email and they will gladly help you and/or provide
additional information on this latest scam.
Loss Prevention Recommendations:
- Be wary of any message received from an unknown sender.
- Do not open unsolicited e-mails or text messages.
- Do not click on any links provided in unsolicited e-mails.
- Don’t display your wireless phone number or e-mail address in public. This includes newsgroups, chat rooms, Web sites, or membership directories.
- If you open an unwanted message, send a stop or opt out message in response.
- Check the privacy policy when submitting your wireless phone number or e-mail address to any Web site. Find out if the policy allows the company to sell your information.
- Contact your wireless or Internet service provider about unwanted messages.
In additon to the above information, DOCCU will never contact you through text
messaging and therefore any messages received through such are most certainly
fraudulent.
Best Regards,
DOCCU |