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ABOUT COMMUNITYAMERICA
Press Releases Archive
Credit Union Encourages Diligence on Personal Financial Security
Caution urged when dealing with online, telephone and other transactions
Lenexa, Kan. ( 03/30/2006) -- CommunityAmerica Credit Union is joining with credit unions and other financial institutions nationwide in encouraging members and customers to redouble their efforts to protect their identity and their financial account information.
"In days past, we would encourage members not to keep money in the mattress so it would not be lost to a burglar," said Randy Woehl, Manager, Loss Prevention at CommunityAmerica. "Today, those robbers are just as aggressive, but in new, technologically sophisticated ways."
Woehl stressed that the Internet is a safe and secure place to conduct transactions and review finances with activities ranging from paying bills, purchasing CDs or balancing a checking account. But precautions are necessary to protect against the unscrupulous.
One of the most insidious forms of theft today is "phishing." Criminals create bogus Web sites - sometimes using the name or the identity of a legitimate business or financial institution - and then lure unsuspecting customers to the site with an urgent request to confirm information or with an offer too good to pass up. For example, visitors to the site think they are buying something from a real business or responding to a real request from their credit union or a lender and they're asked to submit personal information such as account numbers or a Social Security number.
"CommunityAmerica - indeed, no financial institution - will send an e-mail to anyone asking them to provide information, or to confirm information that is already on file," Woehl said. "Do not follow a link from an email to a Web page. The Web page may look like a financial organization's site, but it is not. Scammers will take your account or private information and use it to access your accounts and potentially steal your money."
Woehl suggested that consumers visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft to learn more about how to protect their identity. He also noted that the Web site investopedia.com offered these tips to avoid identity theft:
Protect your Social Security Number. Do not print your social security number on any form of personal identification, including checks and avoid using your SSN as a personal identifier if at all possible.
Protect your mail. Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers and insurance by calling 888-5OPT-OUT or by logging onto https://www.optoutprescreen.com. Shred unsolicited offers you receive in the mail. Suspend mail delivery when you go on vacation. Outgoing mail requires protection, too. For example, when paying credit card bills by mail, only write the last four digits of your account number on your check. Your credit card company has all the information needed to identify you.
Protect your trash. Credit card offers, ATM receipts, bank statements, credit statements/receipts and utility bills all contain personal information that thieves can use to steal your identity. Buy a shredder, and use it. Shred and cut up old credit cards.
Beware of the telephone. Never provide personal information over the phone if you did not initiate the call. Register for the Federal Trade Commission's no-call list at https://www.donotcall.gov, or your state's no-call list. When you do receive an unsolicited call, simply hang up.
Safeguard your computer. Never respond to unsolicited requests for personal information. Always use virus protection. Protect your computer with a password, change it frequently and don't share your password with anyone.
Protect your wallet. Write "photo ID required" in place of the signature on the backs of your credit cards. Photocopy everything in your wallet, including credit card numbers and the contact numbers of the issuers, and store this information in a secure location.
Woehl said CommunityAmerica - one of the largest credit unions in the area and leading provider of financial services to individuals - has taken steps to alert credit union members to fraud because of industry alerts and public reports of phishing and other illegal activity. CommunityAmerica implements the latest technology to monitor member activity and to detect illegal activity. With this technology, CommunityAmerica learns of phishing attempts instantly.
"If we detect illegal activity, we take action immediately to protect the resources of our members," Woehl said. "We have programs in place to protect member funds and to implement corrections as needed to further reduce the chance that problems will arise in the future."
Woehl observed that older members tend to be more skeptical of phishing attempts. Younger members who have been using computers and the Internet most of their lives tend to be more trustful.
"We want older and younger members alike to be comfortable with electronic access to the lending, saving and checking services we offer," Woehl said. "CommunityAmerica has gone to great lengths to make electronic financial transactions safe. We'll meet with customers anytime to help them learn how to use these services safely and efficiently."
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