Florida Telco: A Community Credit Union

The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM. If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the [financial institution] using the 800 number or phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN is cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A "skimmer" is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.

At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.

See full article and photos at:

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/atm/atmcamera.asp

When you use an ATM, pull on the front area where you insert your card because the skimmers are attached with double side tape and will either move or come off.

Legitimate census workers go door-to-door from the end of April to July to capture information from households that fail to mail back the form. Crooks know this and will attempt to collect information from you that's not required by the census--personal information that could lead to identity theft.

Take the census seriously, fill out the form, and mail it back. But don't get taken by impersonators with smooth tactics. Know the five signs that point to a census scam:

1. “Please verify your Social Security number.” Legitimate census takers don't ask for this. In fact, there are just 10 simple questions on the form—that's it. And a question about your Social Security number isn't one of them.
2. “We need your credit union or bank account number.” No, they don't. None of the census' 10 questions asks for financial data (MarketWatch.com Feb. 27). And the Census Bureau will never ask you for your PIN, passwords, or similar access information for credit cards or financial accounts.
3. “Please fill out your census form by replying to this e-mail or visiting this website.” That's a sure sign it's a scam, because the Census Bureau never will contact you by e-mail or ask you to answer questions on a website.
4. “Of course I'm a census taker--you know about the census, right?” Legitimate census takers carry official badges and will give you the phone number of the local Census Bureau office so you can verify identities. To be safe, find your regional census office phone number at Census.gov/regions and call to verify identities.
5. “In cooperation with the census, we're asking for donations to a local charity.” Legitimate census takers don't collect money for charities or political parties, according to the Census Bureau.

If you think you've been a victim of a census scam, contact your regional Census Bureau office immediately. Don't reply to suspicious e-mails or click on links within e-mails that pretend to be from the Census Bureau. Instead, forward the e-mail or website URL to ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov. Then delete the message. The Census Bureau will investigate and notify you of its findings.

that all parties can work together to reduce identity fraud in 2010. Internet technology companies provide secure data networks, encryption, firewalls, fraudulent transaction monitoring, multi-factor authentication, risk management reporting and incident response plans.

Consumer education is a great tool banks and credit unions can use to decrease their consumers likelihood of losing their identity. Consumers who use e-statements and direct deposit are less likely to fall victim to identity fraud.

Consumers using alerts and frequently monitoring their accounts online have a lower average loss due to identity fraud because they are able to detect the fraud sooner. Credit unions and banks can protect their consumers by educating them on electronic services that can prevent and detect identity fraud.| Source: Javelin Strategy & Research, February 10, 2010

• If you receive a letter or email telling you that you have won the lottery, just inherited money, will be paid to assist the moving of found funds, and all you have to do is cash a check and send a money order or money gram– you can be sure it is a scam.
• If you are asked to clear a check through your account and then send a money order or money gram. Ask yourself why they would pay you to send the money instead of just depositing the person’s check in their own account? You can be sure... it's a scam.
• If you get an email from NCUA stating they'll credit your account for $X amount of money if you answer their survey - you can be sure it's NOT from NCUA and is a scam to get your account information.
• If your financial institution sends an email and asks you to click on a link to update your information – you can be sure it is NOT from your financial institution and is a scam.
• If your financial institution, eBay, PayPal, or other legitimate website sends you an email stating your account has been frozen due to suspicious transactions, and asks you to click on a link to change your password – you can be sure it is NOT from your Financial Institution or a legitimate company, and is a scam.
• If you get an email from what appears to be the IRS telling you there has been a problem with your tax return and you need to click on the link so it can all be straightened out........or, the "IRS" is telling you that you did not receive your full refund and "just click on the link," and give your account information so the money can be placed directly into your account --- it might be a scam.