FRAUD PREVENTION

Apple FCU WILL NEVER solicit personal or account information via email, phone or the Internet. If you think you may have been a victim of this or any other fraudulent scam, please contact Apple FCU immediately.

Identity Theft
Victims of identity theft can spend years cleaning up the mess left by thieves who somehow managed to pilfer their information. From damaged credit to the possible loss of future job opportunities, the ramifications can be far-reaching.

Here are a few tips to help you minimize your risk of identity theft:

• Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet
• Know what's in your wallet by making copies (front and back) of all cards and other pieces of information you carry with you so that if your wallet is stolen, you have all the numbers you will need
• Do not use your Social Security number as your Driver's License number
• Do not include your preprinted Driver's License number on your checks
• Do not allow a clerk to write your Social Security number on your checks
• Do not give out personal information over the phone or internet unless you are initiating the transaction
• Be careful with receipts and pre-approved credit card offers - be sure to destroy them unless you are 100% certain you will need them later
• Remove mail promptly from your mailbox each day. If you plan to be out of town for an extended period of time, ask a friend or relative to pick-up your mail or you can request that the Post Office hold your mail until your return
• Check your FREE credit report annually to ensure that all of the information is correct and that there are no anomalies.

• Contact your credit card and financial companies immediately and close your accounts
• When opening your new accounts, change all of your passwords
• Contact the three major credit bureaus —Equifax, TransUnion and Experian— to notify them of your identity theft and to request a fraud alert be placed in your file to prevent any new lines of credit from being opened without your permission
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission Theft Hotline
• File a report with the police and obtain a copy of all documentation for your records for later proof of the crime.

Scam Alerts
For the most up-to-date information on internet and other scams, you can visit the Federal Bureau of Investigations website and the Federal Trade Commission's website.

Smishing Text Messaging Scams
Smishing is a variation on Phishing, except instead of "spoofed" emails and fraudulent websites specifically designed to fool recipients into releasing personal financial information, you receive a text message from a "bank" or "credit union" attempting to solicit you in a similar manner.

To help avoid Smishing, review the following scam tips:

• Immediately report Smishing attempts with your relevant financial institution so that they are aware of the incident and can begin the appropriate security protocol.
• Contact your cell phone service provider right away about unwanted messages; letting them know early on may make it easier to reverse charges for all unwanted messages.
• Place your wireless number on the National Do Not Call Registry; registration is free and will not expire.
• Avoid displaying your cell phone number in a public place online, such as websites, chatrooms or blogs.
• Check the privacy policy of an organization’s website before submitting personal information, such as phone numbers or email addresses. Consider setting up an email address specifically for use on these sites.

www.fakechecks.org
With current advancements in computer and printing technologies, spotting fake checks is becoming an increasingly difficult task. Sure, you’d like to believe that the person purchasing your car made an honest mistake when she penned in the sale amount. Or that this is your lucky day, and you’ve actually won the lottery. But how can you be certain that the check in your hand is truly legitimate?

Websites such as the National Consumers League’s www.fakechecks.org are important resources when it comes to safeguarding your assets. Hosted by one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit consumer organizations, the National Consumer League, www.fakechecks.org is a central source of information and advice regarding common check scams. Follow the link above to learn more.

IRS Alerts Consumers About Phish'y' Email
A recent up-tick in identity theft scams using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) name to garner personal data has caused the agency to issue a warning to consumers.

According to the IRS, the United States Treasury's inspector general for tax administration has so far come across 12 websites from 11 different countries hosting the phishing schemes. Many individual taxpayers have received invites to visit these sites and verify personal information in order to get a refund. These phish'y' emails may appear to be from addresses like tax-refunds@irs.gov, admin@irs.gov or other variations of email addresses with irs.gov endings. Links from these emails end up on one of these carbon-copy "IRS" websites, and prompts visitors to provide personal and financial information that the official IRS interactive page does not require. For the full story on these websites, visit www.irs.gov.

Additionally, non-residents have been targeted for scams involving the use of the IRS name. These individuals are receiving bogus letters and W-8BEN forms supposedly from the IRS-this form is used by financial institutions to establish appropriate tax withholding for foreign individuals. The letters ask recipients to provide personal information such as account numbers, personal identification numbers, mother's maiden name and passport number. The IRS states that the legitimate W-8BEN form does not seek any of this information.

Overpayment/419 Scams
The name 419 Scam comes from the section in Nigeria's criminal code that addresses this type of operation. Though this type of scam originated in Nigeria, variations have been traced to other countries throughout the world.

Here's how many scams work: Someone responds to your ad for a car, big-ticket item, rentable room, etc., and offers to pay with a cashier's check. Later, the respondent notifies you that the check will exceed the item's price, and requests that you return the difference-either via wire transfer or another cashier's check-after you've deposited the check. It isn't until later, that you learn the check has bounced, and now you're liable for the entire amount.

To help avoid such a scenario, review the following scam tips:

• Know the person you're dealing with. In any transaction, independently confirm the buyer's name, street address and telephone number. If selling a vehicle, require a copy of the buyer's driver's license.
• Don't accept a check issued for more than your selling price. Ask the buyer to write a new check for the correct amount. If they refuse, then return the check.
• Consider another method of payment. Online payment services such as PayPal are available. If the buyer recommends using a service you've never heard of, check it out. To learn more about online payment services, visit www.ftc.gov/onlineshopping.
• Ask for the check to be drawn on a local bank. This way you can visit to ensure the check is valid. If this is not possible, confirm the bank's number and call to confirm the checks validity.
• If the buyer insists you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately.
• Resist any pressure to "act now".
• Throw away offers that ask you to pay for a prize or gift.
• Resist the urge to enter foreign lotteries.

International Lottery Scams
Congratulations! You've won a major prize or a large amount of money. All you have to do to collect is pay the taxes and/or fees on your winnings. Sound too good to be true? Well, it is.

Here's how it works: You're contacted about the fact that you MAY HAVE WON or ALREADY WON a particular prize either via email, the U.S. Mail or over the telephone. But, there's a catch, in order for you to receive your winnings, you have to pay some taxes or fees up front. OR, they claim they'll help you take care of this technicality by sending you a cashier's check for the amount of the taxes/fees, and all you have to do is cash it and return the money either by the issue of another cashier's check or wire transfer.

To help avoid such a scenario, review the following scam tips:

• Remember, FREE IS FREE. You shouldn't have to pay for something you've won, and if someone claims that you do, end communication immediately.
• DO NOT give personal information to anyone claiming to hold your "winnings". This includes full name, credit card information, social security number, financial accounts, etc.
• If you deposit a counterfeit check, you could be liable for entire amount.
• If the buyer insists you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately.
• Resist any pressure to "act now".
• Remember, participation in foreign lotteries over the phone or via U.S. Mail are a violation of federal law.

Phishing
Phishing scams are generally "spoofed" emails and fraudulent websites that have highjacked a trusted brand image and are specifically designed to fool recipients into releasing personal financial information, such as account and credit card numbers. Phishing solicitations for personal information can also take place via the telephone. If you are contacted in this manner, get the "agents" name and customer service number, then call the number of your bank, credit card company, etc. that they claim to be from and ask if that person actually is employed there. Do not use a number provided by the "agent".

To avoid phishing, be cautious when using the internet:

• Be suspicious of any email that is marked "urgent request" and asks for your personal information
• If you are not sure if an email is authentic, do not follow the links in the email
• Do not fill-out emailed forms that request personal information
• Double check that websites you are submitting your credit card or personal information through are secure. You can either do this by checking for the padlock that appears at the bottom right of your screen, or look for https:// to appear in front of the web address you are using in your browser bar
• Review your statements regularly to make sure there are no anomalies
• Be suspicious of emails that claim to be from your financial company
• Install a firewall, as well as an anti-spyware, program on your computer
• Update your browser with security patches regularly
• To report phishing emails you have received, forward them to the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Fraud Complaint Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Skimming
Skimming is the act of capturing magnetic information from a credit or ATM card and then using it for fraudulent purposes. Skimming can be performed either with a handheld device, or a magnetic strip reader attached to an ATM, Debit or Check Card portal.

To help prevent your card from being skimmed:

• If an ATM or credit card machine looks tampered with, try to find an alternative terminal
• Protect your PIN number with your body when you enter it into an ATM or credit card machine
• If a waiter or a store clerk must take your card in order to charge it, try to keep the person in sight as they do so.
  

If you find yourself the victim of skimming:

• Contact your credit card and financial companies immediately and close your accounts
• When opening your new accounts, change all of your passwords and PINs
• Contact the three major credit bureaus —Equifax, TransUnion and Experian— to notify them and to request a fraud alert be placed in your file to prevent any new lines of credit be opened without your permission
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission Theft Hotline
• File a report with the police and obtain a copy of all documentation for your records for later proof of the crime.

• The Federal Trade Commission's website
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation's website.

• The Federal Trade Commission's website
• The three credit bureaus —Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

• The Federal Trade Commission's website
• The Internet Fraud Complaint Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.