• November 2007 - Subject "Notification of Card Deactivation" claiming to be from your Credit Union.

If you receive an email from Credit Union (cardprotect@creditunion.info), this email is not from LorMet Credit Union.  LorMet will not ask you to verify your account numbers, PIN # or social security numbers via e-mail or request you to reactivate your card by completing an online authentication form.   If you are ever unsure about a check, e-mail or call you receive pertaining to your account at LorMet, don't hesitate to call on people you trust - your Credit Union.

• October 2007 - Counterfiet Check Scams are on the rise!

Counterfeit or fake checks are being used in a growing number of fraudulent schemes, including foreign lottery scams, check overpayment scams, Internet auction scams, and secret shopper scams.  Check overpayment scams target consumers selling cars or other valuable items through classified ads or online auction sites. Unsuspecting sellers get stuck when scammers pass off bogus cashier’s checks, corporate checks,personal checks or money orders. These scammers attempt to steal your money by forwarding you a counterfeit cashier's check, corporate check, personal check or money order asking you to return a portion of the money after depositing into your financial institution for payment of fees, storage, shipping etc.

Read "Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams" provided by the Federal Trade Commission. Learn more about how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of a Counterfiet Check Scam. 

FBI Fraud Alert - "If you can answer "YES" to any of the following questions, you could be involved in a FRAUD or about to be SCAMMED! 

• June 2007 - Email Scam:  Fraudsters claiming to be from "NCUA Account Review Department." 

Fraudsters are sending emails out claiming to be from "NCUA Account Review Department." 

THIS E-MAIL IS A FRAUDULENT ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS.  MEMBERS SHOULD NOT ACCESS THE LINK PROVIDED WITHIN THE BODY OF THE E-MAIL AND, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE SURE NOT TO PROVIDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION THROUGH THIS MEDIA.

• December 2006 - Be aware! Lottery Scams are intensifying! 
  
  Lottery scam letters are being sent out by the thousands and thousands every day either through the email or through the mail.  There are two things the fraudsters want: your identity and your money.  Lottery scammers will steal your identity by asking for your personal identification.   Lottery scammers attempt to steal your money by forwarding you a counterfeit check or money order asking you to return a portion of the money after depositing into your financial institution for payment of fees, storage, shipping etc. 
  
  Tips to identifying Lottery Scams
  

  • Be aware of any typos and incorrect usage of the English language within the email, letter, or check or money order. 
     
  • Legitimate lotteries, free lotteries (also known as Sweepstakes) never, NEVER ask for money.  If you really win a lottery or Sweepstakes, the only money you owe is the tax you personally pay directly to your government. 
    
  • If you receive a check or money order in advance, requesting that you deposit into your financial institution and return a portion of the check amount via money order or wire to pay fees and other applicable fees, it may be a counterfeit item and you may be a victim of counterfeit check fraud.    Be cautious and do not deposit unless you are able to verify the origin and authenticity of the check or money order.  You will be responsible for the entire amount.  
    

  October 2006 - FDIC Phishing Alert! The FDIC has received reports by businesses and consumers of a phishing e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC.  This phishing e-mail, appears to be from the FDIC and asks recipients to click on a hyperlink titled "Take the Corrective Action - Implement the LinkBank System."  The fradulent e-mails, which are purportedly from "Russell A. Rau, Assistant Inspector General for Audits," typically include a "Subject" line that states:  "Complaince Examination for [recipient's name inserted]." 

THE HYPERLINK TITLED "TAKE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION - IMPLEMENT THE LINKBANK SYSTEM" IS VERY DANGEROUS.  WHEN ACCESSED, THE HYPERLINK DOWNLOADS AN EXECUTABLE FILE TO YOUR COMPUTER.  THIS FILE IS LIKELY INSTALLING A KEYLOGGER OR SIMILAR PIECE OF MALICIOUS SOFTWARE.  DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK PROVIDED IN THE PHISHING E-MAIL.

THIS E-MAIL IS A FRAUDULENT ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS.  MEMBERS SHOULD NOT ACCESS THE LINK PROVIDED WITHIN THE BODY OF THE E-MAIL AND, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BE SURE NOT TO PROVIDE ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION THROUGH THIS MEDIA.

• September 2006 - You may receive a bogus e-mail mimicking an e-mail from Card Services for Credit Unions (CSCU).  This e-mail asks members to take a brief survey.  When you click on the link in the e-mail, it takes you to a site that looks like the CSCU Web site and asks for personal account information as well as plastic card information. 

CSCU DID NOT SEND ANY E-MAILS DIRECTLY TO CARDHOLDERS AND DOES NOT HAVE CARDHOLDER DATA, NEITHER DO FRAUSTERS WHO SEND OUT MASSES OF E-MAILS & HOPE THEY'LL REACH RECIPIENTS WHO ALSO ARE MEMBERS OF ANY CREDIT UNION AND "TAKE THE BAIT", GIVING THEM PERSONAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION. (SEE BELOW - MAY 2006)

June 2006 - The latest phish e-mail scams pretend to be from Visa, MasterCard or a Credit Union organization claiming that because of a recent Phishing attack, card companies have deactivated member debit cards.  The scammers then ask the e-mail recipient to reactivate their cards by inputting card information, also stating there is no reason to call, but if there are problems to call customer service.  VISA, MASTERCARD, LORMET or CREDIT UNION ORGANIZATIONS WILL NEVER E-MAIL YOU AND ASK FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION.  Recipients should not click on any links in the message and should delete the message.   

• May 2006- Fraudsters are now using e-mails claiming to be from a credit union or financial institution (phishing scams).  The e-mail’s look official, and contain a link to a “spoofed” (fake) website that looks just like the legitimate website.  Once the victim is redirected to the spoofed website, the e-mail asks to fill in personal account information, which may be quickly used for fraudulent transactions.  Remember, LorMet will never send you an e-mail asking for your personal information!  Beware of e-mail attachments.  Don’t click them open or download any files, regardless of who sent them! Read more about how to recognize phishing scams and how fraudsters try to fool you, along with other safety tips.

• March 2006- Members and cardholders should not respond to any email that directs them to update their personal information by dialing a telephone number.  Now fraudsters who send Phishing scams may direct the consumer to dial a telephone number instead of going to a web site or click on a link.  The phone number will be an automated phone system that will direct the victims to enter their personal information, such as card number, PIN, 3 digit card code, etc.  To be certain that they have contacted LorMet, members should only use the phone numbers listed on the back of their card to follow up on inquiries for information.   
  
• January 2006 - IRS warns of ‘tax refund’ e-mail scam
  
  The IRS is warning consumers against a bogus e-mail scam, which claims to come from taxrefunds@irs.gov, directing consumers to a link requesting personal and financial information in order to receive a tax refund.
   

Additionally, when LorMet’s fraud alert service or staff initiates contact to members to verify that a member is in possession of their card when suspicious transactions appear, staff will not ask for the member’s account number, card number or PIN.  When in doubt, end the call and call the number on the back of your card to make sure you are talking with credit union staff. 

• Do not open attachments in suspect e-mails because they can trigger computer viruses. 
• If you receive an unsolicited e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to find out whether the IRS is trying to contact you about a tax refund.