Member Resources  |  Fraud Alerts

Alert 10

A new string of vishing attacks is targeting credit union members in which the caller claims to be from Iowa Corporate Central and asks for your card number.  Do not provide any information to the caller as these calls are fraudulent. 

Affinity Credit Union will never ask for your card or personal information via phone or e-mail solicitation.  If you have responded to these phone calls and entered your information, please contact us immediately at 1-800-343-1028.

Alert 9

There is a recent string of vishing attacks going around in which the automated caller tells you that your debit/credit card has been deactivated and to reactivate it you need to enter your card information.  These phone calls are fraudulent and should be ignored.  According to a recent newspaper article, the fraudsters are targeting credit union members and non-members across the country.

Affinity Credit Union will never ask for your card or personal information via phone or e-mail solicitation.  If you have responded to these phone calls and entered your information, please contact us immediately at 1-800-343-1028.

Alert 8

Affinity Credit Union has been notified that members are receiving fraudulent phone calls regarding our home banking.  The caller informs the member that our home banking will be unavailable on May 1 and May 3 and gives them a new website to access and tells them to put in their Social Security number.  These phone calls and website are phony and should be ignored.  If you have provided your SSN or other account information in regard to these phone calls please let us know immediately by calling 1-800-343-1028.

Anytime Affinity Credit Union would have a home banking outage we would notify our members on our Website or through the home banking login pages.  Affinity Credit Union does not ask for your identifying via phone, e-mail or Web solicitation. 

Alert 7

Fraudulent e-mails are circulating claiming to be from Affinity Credit Union.  Do not click on any links in an e-mail you receive if you are not sure of sender.  The fraudulent e-mail reads as follows:

"Hello! 

Your profile will be locked in response to a complaint received by the Administration 29.01.2010.

According to "paragraph 8 of th user agreement, affinitycuia.org reserves te right to suspend or terminate the provision of services affinitycuia.org, promptly notifying the user.

Refute the statement may be, following this link:

http://197.co.cc/2e3bb67cb4

If the application is not rejected within 7 days, your e-mail an account will be blocked.

It has a number 424515407067442.

In the near future we will contact you.

It takes up to 3 days to process your request.

Thank you!
Sincerely,

mail support service

affinitycuia.org"

If you are unsure if an e-mail is fraudulent please contact us or read keywords to help you determine if an e-mail is fraudulent.

Alert 6

Beware of new fraudulent text messages circulating claiming to be from "Card Services Credit Union".  The text states your debit card has been deactivated and to call 442-7210 to change your PIN.  These texts are fraudulent and should be deleted immediately.  DO NOT respond to this message.  Affinity Credit Union will never ask for personal identifying information, PINs, or card numbers via phone or e-mail solicitation.  If you have responded to the text please notify us immediately at 1-800-343-1028.  

Alert 5 - Beware of New Computer Virus 

A new computer virus called "Zeusbot" is hitting credit union members across the country.  The virus appears to be stemming from a phony website called 1001 Postcards.  The site suggests you have received a postcard and directs recipients to a link to view the postcard.  The link however unleashes the Zeusbot virus onto the recipients computer.

One on your computer, the virus allows the hacker to log your keystrokes giving them access to your bank account information. The virus also asks you to verify credit card information once logged in to view your accounts giving them access to your credit cards as well.

To avoid being a victim of any virus do not click on any links contained in an e-mail in which you are unfamiliar of the sender.  If you have been a victim of a computer virus please notify us immediately at 1-800-343-1028. 

Alert 4 - Beware of Mystery/Secret Shopping

Victims have reported to the IC3 they were contacted via e-mail and U.S. mail to apply to be a mystery shopper. Applicants are asked to send a resume and are purportedly subject to an extensive background check before being accepted as a mystery shopper. The employees are sent a check with instructions to shop at a specified retailer for a specific length of time and spend a specific amount on merchandise from the store. The employees receive instructions to take note of the store's environment, color, payment procedures, gift items, and shopping/carrier bags and report back to the employer. The second evaluation is the ease and accuracy of wiring money from the retail location. The money to be wired is also included in the check sent to the employee. The remaining balance is the employee's payment for the completion of the assignment. After merchandise is purchased and money is wired, the employees are advised by the bank the check cashed was counterfeit, and they are responsible for the money lost in addition to bank fees incurred.

In other versions of the scheme, applicants are requested to provide bank account information to have money directly deposited into their accounts. The fraudster then has acquired access to these victims' accounts and can withdraw money, which makes the applicant a victim of identity theft.

Tips to avoid becoming a victim:

•  Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Virus scan all attachments, if possible.
• Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the e-mail to the link you are actually directed to and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
• There are legitimate mystery/secret shopper programs available. Research the legitimacy on companies hiring mystery shoppers. Legitimate companies will not charge an application fee and will accept applications on-line.
• No legitimate mystery/secret shopper program will send payment in advance and ask the employee to send a portion of it back.

Alert 3

Fraudulent e-mails that appear to be from VISA are circulating.  The subject line for these e-mails is "possible fraudulent transaction is identified with your VISA card".  These e-mails are part of a phishing attach and should be deleted immediately.  Below is a copy of the fraudulent e-mail:

"Dear VISA card holder,

A recent review of your transaction history determined that your card was used at an ATM located in Poland, but for security reasons the requested transaction was refused.  Please carefully review electronic report for your VISA card at:

http://statements.visa.com/cards/alerts/transactions.php?ref=0822720241257355340400338753095345082422340263299582737213042896&email=[youremailaddress]

VISA Cards Support

Id: 4UW2G1DAPQAPYKC37OS2I214TL2QB7SL3T7FWZRX41M0M"

If you have clicked on the link below and provided any personal identifying information or card information please contact us immediately at 1-800-343-1028.

Alert 2

Alert 1 - Beware of U.S. Census Scams

The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.  Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.

Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau's request for information.  During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a Census worker.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice.  Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.  However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.
• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.  Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.  Census workers will not ask for banking and financial information nor will they solicit donations.
• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home.  However, they will not contact by e-mail so be on the lookout for e-mail scams impersonating the Census.  Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Be cooperative but cautious!