Scam Information - Protect Yourself!

New phishing attempts target JPMorgan Chase and Wachovia Bank customers

If you receive an email purporting to be from JPMorgan Chase or Wachovia Bank beware. Both institutions are once again targets of phishing attempts designed to steal personal information while appearing to be legitimate. Within these emails it is stated that these institutions have had issues with wire transfer services and the entry of personal information is needed to validate certain transactions. If you receive one of these emails please do not respond or click on any link; simply delete the email and live happily ever after.

Don't fall for fake IRS scams

From the February 8, 2008 Kiplinger Newsletter...
As filing season starts, cyber scammers are trying new tactics to steal personal financial information from taxpayers, IRS warns. One type of email message tells folks that their return will be audited. Another offers tax pros information on tax law changes. In each case, the sender purports to be IRS and directs recipients to click on links that give senders access to their computers and personal data. If you receive one of these phony notices don't fall for it. Forward the solicitation to phishing@irs.gov and then delete the message.

Phone scammers are hard at work as well, saying that they need your bank account information to directly deposit the upcoming tax rebate. Don't be fooled. IRS never contacts taxpayers via an unsolicited call.

Vishing is gaining popularity

In a twist on the Phishing method of scamming people, fraudsters are now using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones to steal financial information. By using VoIP the fraudster can tell your Caller ID to display a seemingly safe local or toll free phone number. By displaying this type of number the fraudster hopes to gain the trust of the unsuspecting recipient of the call.

As a reminder, ITT Employees' Federal Credit Union does not and will not call, email, write, or Instant Message you to ask for personal information. Please do not respond to these types of communication.

Jury Duty Scam

In this scam the fraudster telephones their victim posing as a local court official who claims the victim has failed to report for jury duty, and as a result, a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The victim will rightly claim they have never received any jury duty notifications. To clear things up the fraudster then asks for confidential information (such as social security number, birth date) for verification purposes or payment information (such as credit card number, bank account) for alleged fines. This is a scam! Members are urged not to give any personal information over the phone.

Attention Bill Pay users...

If you are using Bill Pay and a new screen appears out of context asking you to provide sensitive information, do not provide this information. The screen may be the result of a virus resident on your computer. If you are in doubt about the validity of the screen please call ITT Employees' Federal Credit Union at 260 451 6161.

Scam Alert

Once again we are receiving reports of fraudulent emails asking for "information verification." ITT Employees' Federal Credit Union does not and will not solicit this type of information from our members. Please do not respond to any email, letter, or phone call that seeks personal information from you.

If you have any questions about fraudulent solicitations please contact us or visit our Fraud Prevention page.

Further resources...

Please also visit our Fraud Prevention and Identity Theft pages for more information about ways to avoid fraud and, if necessary, recover from it.