Protect Your Identity

E -Mail and Internet Fraud take advantage of the Internet's unique ability to send e-mail messages worldwide in seconds or post Web site information that is accessible from anywhere. E-mail and internet fraudsters carry out their scams more invisibly than ever before, making identity theft from online scams one of the fastest growing crimes today.

Credit union members should be especially vigilant to some of the more prevalent frauds at work in cyberspace:

PHISHING

Fraudulent e-mails, appearing to be from a trusted source such as your credit union or a government agency, direct you to a Web site asking you to "verify" personal information. Once scammers have your information, they have the tools to commit account fraud using your name.

What You Can Do:

• If you receive an e-mail that tells you to confirm certain information, do not click on the e-mail link. Instead, use a phone number or Web site address you know to be legitimate.
• Before submitting any financial information through a Web site, look for the "lock" icon on the browser status bar, or look for "https" in the Web address.
• Report suspicious activity (See resources at the end of this article).

PHARMING

Similar to phishing, pharming seeks to obtain personal information by secretly directing you to a copycat Web site where your information is stolen, usually with a legitimate looking form.

What You Can Do:

• Be wary of unsolicited or unexpected e-mails from all sources.
• If an unsolicited e-mail arrives, treat it as you would a phishing source (see above).

MALWARE

Short for malicious software, and also known as "spyware." it is often included in spam e-mails. It then can take control of your computer and forward personal data to fraudsters.

What You Can Do:

Install and regularly update your:

• Anti-virus software
• Anti-malware programs
• Firewalls on your computer
• Operating system patches and updates

GENERAL TIPS AGAINST CYBER-FRAUD

• Don't Judge by Initial Appearances. The availability of software that allows anyone to set up a professional-looking Web site means that criminals can make their Web sites look as impressive as those of legitimate businesses.
• Be Careful Giving Personal Data Online. If you receive e-mails from someone you don’t know asking for personal data – don’t send the data without knowing who’s asking.
• Be Wary of E-mails Concealing Their True Identity. If someone sends you an e-mail using a mail header that has no useful identifying data it could mean that the person is hiding something.
• Fortify Your System. Here are some basic safety tips you can implement immediately:
  • Password – Experts advise a combination of letters and numbers.
  • Virus Protection- Your computers anti-virus software need to be up-to-date to guard against new strains.
  • Firewalls-This protective wall between the outside world and your computer helps prevent unauthorized access. Check regularly with your software company to be sure you have the latest updates
  • Spyware- Anti-spyware programs are readily available. Every computer connected to the Internet should have the software installed and updated regularly.

RESOURCES

Consumer Fraud (DOJ/Homepage) - www.usdoj.gov

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Response Center - www.ftc.gov

Consumer.gov - www.consumer.gov

Social Security Administration Report Fraud: 800-269-0271

Identity Theft Resource Center - www.idtheftcenter.org or 858-693-7935