Wireless Phone Text Scam - Posted 6/26/09
It has been reported that consumers are receiving fraudulent text messages requesting personal information. This scam is known as SMISHING. This scam uses an automated system that is requesting/harvesting card numbers and personal identification numbers (PINs). The fraudulent phone number that has been reported is (1-323-908-4680).
This text message is NOT from the credit union or any other financial institution.
If you receive an email or text asking for any personal information or action on your part, please disregard and delete it immediately. Please contact UIECU immediately at 217-278-7700 or toll free at 877-678-4328 if you feel that your personal financial information has been compromised in any way.
Fraudulent Email Alert- Posted 1/21/09
January 21, 2009 - It has been reported to us that some members are receiving a fraudulent email that appears to come from the U of I Employees Credit Union. This email is not from the credit union. This is a scam - a phishing attempt - and we are currently in the process of attempting to stop it. The website where this email originated has been shutdown and is no longer functioning, however please be advised that additional fraudulent attempts to contact members may occur.
UIECU is not attempting to collect any information from our members via email or text. This has never been a practice of ours and will never be. If you receive an email or text asking for any personal information or action on your part, please disregard and delete it immediately. Please contact UIECU immediately if you feel that your personal financial information has been compromised in any way.
Thank you for your time and patience. Please contact us at 217-278-7700 or toll free at 877-678-4328 if you have any further questions.
Sample Fraudulent Message:
From: U of I Employees Credit Union [mailto:uiecu@service.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 9:41 AM
Subject: You Have 1 New Message !
Importance: High
You have 1 new ALERT message
Please update your U of I Emplyees Credit Union account
Your Internet Banking Account is currently locked.
To Login, please click the link below:
U of I Employees Credit Union Online Banking
© Copyright 2009 U of I Employees Credit Union. All rights reserved.
January 23, 2009
Card Processor’s Breach May Be Largest Ever
In what could be the largest data breach to date, with possibly more than 100 million credit and debit cards compromised, one of the nation’s largest payment processors announced that its processing system was breached last year.Cardholders carrying both VISA and MasterCard branded cards may have been affected at many credit unions and banks as well. This is not the result of any security breach involving UIECU systems.
A source for the data breach has been identified as Heartland Payment Systems, one of the nation’s largest payment processors. A payment processor serves as an intermediary to pass transactions between the merchant and the financial institution. It is believe that some type of spyware software was used to capture card information from the Heartland system. Heartland believes that the breach is contained, according to a press release, and is currently working with forensic auditors and FBI officials to obtain full details on how this happened.
The information breach included card numbers and cardholders’ names but did not include merchant data, cardholders’ Social Security numbers, unencrypted personal identification numbers, addresses or telephone numbers, according to the Heartland press release. The full press release from Heartland is available here.
Since the source of the breach has been identified, cards that might have been compromised can now be more readily identified. These cards will have to be closed and reissued to further protect cardholder information. It is currently unclear how many UIECU-issued cards may have been affected, but please know that we are working diligently to identify and resolve all issues.
Multiple security measures are in place to identify and reduce fraud at UIECU. Please know that:
- We are committed to protecting member information and financial assets.
- Members are not responsible for losses due to fraudulent transactions on their accounts if reported according to account agreements.
- Daily transaction limits have been established to accommodate most normal cardholder demands, but reduce exposure to fraudulent activity.
Please keep a close watch on your accounts and advise the credit union or other card issuers immediately if there are any transactions you do not recognize. Credit union members can monitor accounts regularly through I-Branch Home Banking. Account alerts can also be set up online to provide notification of transactions or balance thresholds.
In addition to our standard practices, we are continually monitoring accounts for suspicious activity. This heightened security may result in the suspension or delay of some transactions and any compromised cards will have to be closed and reissued. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you experience any unusual activity or difficulty in the use of your card please contact a credit union representative at 217-278-7700 or 877-678-4328. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@uiecu.org.
Sincerely,
U of I Employees Credit Union
Security Measures
Useful Links and Phone Numbers
Discover how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
877-438-4338
Major Credit Bureaus:
Equifax
www.equifax.com
800-525-6285
Experian
www.experian.com
888-397-3742
Trans Union
www.transunion.com
800-680-7289
Free Credit Report:
www.annualcreditreport.com
877-322-8228
Social Security Fraud Hotline:
800-269-0271
Cash & Check Card Disputed Item Form:
Please fill out and return the Cash & Check Card Disputed Item Form if you suspect fraud for an individual purchase or group of purchases using one of your credit union accounts. If you have any questions about filling out this form, please call the credit union at 217-278-7700 to speak with a Members Service Representative.
