Caller ID Spoofing Fraud

Local credit unions combined forces to produce a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the growing Caller ID Spoofing problem going on throughout the country.


Here is a link to the PSA video: CLICK HERE


Basically, Caller ID as a reliable technology is dead. Do not rely on Caller ID as a verification of who is calling you. Caller ID can be tricked to show any number that the caller wants, such as a financial institution or government agency.


Credit unions have spent decades of building trust with our members and scammers are abusing that trust with Caller ID Spoofing. NEVER give out personal information on an unsolicited call regardless of who is supposedly calling you. Scammers are trying to gain the 3-digit security code on the back of your credit or debit card. Don't do it!

Video Surveillance

All financial institutions will employ a variety of video surveillance equipment throughout the offices of each operational location. Video recording is taking place both inside and outside of our offices. This video is there to document a number of events taking place over the course of a given workday. Video is capturing vehicle and pedestrian  traffic as they come and go from our parking lots. This capability has assisted the credit union in cases of vehicle accidents, property damage to our buildings, personal injury falls, and fraud and/or crimes to document vehicles being driven. Several years ago our main office was robbed and we were able to capture images of the getaway vehicle that dropped off the robber before the robbery.


The outside cameras have helped while we are closed also to document storm damages or criminal activity taking place on our lots after hours. Police departments often review our outside video coverage for events that have taken place near our offices.


Once an individual steps into one of our offices, there are numerous cameras throughout the building that will capture different angles of people coming and going. This is why we ask that hats and sun glasses be removed. If you've ever seen robbery suspects the vast majority have hats and sun glasses on to help disguise their appearance. We once had one of our credit union members walk in with his full face motorcycle helmet on while doing a transaction at the teller window. When I saw this live on my office monitor I immediately went to verify that all was ok but to also counsel that member to never to do that again. We have tellers who have been involved in robberies and they do not need scary situations being presented to them in the course of their daily jobs. Our cameras at the teller lines have helped to document disputes over money exchanges and service. Video is pretty honest and comes in handy often.


Video surveillance is there for both your protection and that of the credit union employees.



Con Artists Taking Advantage of Western Union Settlement

If you were a victim of a scam between January 1, 2004, and January 19, 2017, and used Western Union’s money transfer system, you are able to file a claim to get your money back.
However, scammers are now trying to take advantage of this settlement to scam you again!


They will send an official-looking email about the Western Union settlement and ask you for information about your transaction, along with your name and ad...dress. The thing to know is that you cannot apply for a refund by email. These emails are scams. Do not respond and do not give any information.

Better Business Bureau offers tips on how to submit a claim:
· Go to www.ftc.com/WU for more information and to file your claim. The deadline is May 31, 2018. · Only the amount you transferred via Western Union is eligible for a refund. Other expenses like Western Union fees, other losses, or transfers sent through other businesses are not eligible for a refund.  · If you sent money to a scammer via Western Union and don't have paperwork related to the transfer you may still be eligible for a payment.


If you have already applied for a refund and you get an email about it, call Gilardi & Co., the claims administrator, at 1-844-319-2124.


If you have not yet applied for a refund and get an email asking you to apply for one by responding to the email, please tell the FTC.


Source: BBB.org and Federal Trade Commission: United States Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov - not subject to copyright protection. 17 U.S.C. 403.


This tip provided by the BBB of North Alabama.