WINTER SCAM UPDATES:
January 8, 2010 - Debit Card Skimming Fraud
Please click here for more information.
December 14, 2009 - Fraudulent Cashier's Checks referencing Global Investment Holdings & Finance and/or BMA Mystery Shopping
Fraudulent cashier's checks in the name of Great Basin Federal Credit Union are currently in circulation in conjunction with at least two different scams. The two scams we are aware of are sent through the mail; the letters reference either Global Investment Holdings and Finance or BMA Mystery Shopping. If you receive cashier's checks from either of these companies, do NOT cash the check or deposit it into your account. If you have further questions please call 775.789.3177 or 1.800.545.4228. You can also send us an email at fraud@greatbasin.org.
OTHER DETAILS: The FRAUDULENT checks have a similar ram's head logo in the upper left hand corner as valid checks. Next to the logo it lists the address and phone number in two lines:
9970 S. VIRGINIA ST.
RENO, NEVADA 89511 Tel. 1-289-888-2421
VALID GBFCU cashier's checks list the address and phone number in three lines:
9770 S. VIRGINIA ST.
RENO, NV 89511
(775) 333-4228
Other differences include:
- Valid checks have the date printed all numeric: 12/04/09 - Counterfeit checks spell out the date: December 04, 2009
- In the lower right hand signature area, valid cashier's checks state, "Two signatures required if over $50,000.00". There are two signature lines printed on all checks and under the bottom signature line it states, "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS" - Fraudulent checks only have one signature line with the words, "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE", listed underneath.
December 11, 2009 - Phone Calls Soliciting Personal Information to "Reactivate" a Debit Card
We have had multiple members inform us that they have received phone calls from someone identifying them as their "credit card company" or "bank". The caller states that thier debit or credit card has been "disabled for the holiday season" and proceed to solicit personal information from the victim in order to "reactivate" the card.
Please remember: NEVER provide personal information to someone over the phone unless YOU initiated the phone call and can confirm that you are talking to a legitimate business.
FALL SCAM UPDATES:
October 28, 2009 - Fraudulent E-Mails Claiming to Be From the FDIC
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has warned of e-mails that appear to be sent from the FDIC that ask recipients to download and open a "personal FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. These e-mails are fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission.
Currently, the subject line of the fraudulent e-mails includes the wording "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mails state: "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets."
The e-mails ask recipients to "visit the official FDIC website" by clicking on a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms. However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable files provided on the Web site.
Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-3054, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.
For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2009/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
SUMMER SCAM UPDATES:
"MAKING WORK PAY" TAX CREDIT EMAIL PHISHING SCAM
If you get an email from the IRS about the "Making Work Pay" tax credit, DELETE IT. The email says that you can have money directly deposited into your account instead of receiving a tax credit and will ask for your name and your account number. Here are a couple of facts to keep in mind:
- Taxpayers who aren't wage earners (like retirees) don't qualify for the tax credit.
- The IRS does NOT discuss tax account matters with taxpayers via e-mail. Recipients should delete these messages, even if they include the IRS name, logo or Web site. If an e-mail is questionable, call the local IRS office (with a number from your phone book, not the e-mail) to confirm its validity.
The IRS warns against several other "phishing" scams now circulating, including e-mails from:
- The Department of Treasury telling the recipient he/she will receive millions of dollars in recovered funds or lottery winnings or cash consignment if they provide certain personal information, including phone numbers, via return e-mail
- Fraudsters that modify a genuine IRS form, the W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding. The e-mail may request detailed personal and financial information, such as passport number, bank account and PIN numbers, spouse's name and mother's maiden name, etc. The message may include the official form name/number or may make up a new one, such as W-4100B2.
Source: http://www.hrmorning.com/gotcha-warn-employees-about-the-latest-identity-theft-scam/ 
FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS
Beware of foreclosure rescue scams - help is FREE! Keep in mind that:
- Scam artists often target homeowners who are struggling to meet their mortgage commitment or anxious to sell their homes. Recognize and avoid common scams.
- Assistance from a HUD-approved housing counselor is FREE.
- Beware of anyone who asks you to pay a fee in exchange for a counseling service or modification of a delinquent loan.
- Beware of people who pressure you to sign papers immediately, or who try to convince you that they can "save" your home if you sign or transfer over the deed to your house.
- Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company to forgive your debt.
- Never make a mortgage payment to anyone other than your mortgage company without their approval.
Information found on www.makinghomeaffordable.gov; click on the link for more information or call us at 775.789.3171.
MYSTERY SHOPPER SCAM (INTERNET LOTTERY SCAM/SWEEPSTAKES SCAMS)
This scam has been making the rounds as of late. A person receives a letter in the mail along with a check stating that they have recently applied for a position as a Mystery Shopper, or that they have won an Internet Lottery or the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. The letter will look official and will have names of individuals to contact and in some instances will purportedly have the name of an IRS official who is responsible for the taxes on the prize.
They will ask you to deposit the check at your institution and then wire back funds to cover taxes, purchase items at stores etc. A request such of this is a definite indicator of a scam. Another sign of it being a scam is if the person that you contact tells you not to take the check to the bank it is drawn on because of a security feature of the check and that you must deposit it in your bank.
If you do deposit the check into your financial institution, when it is returned by the bank that it was allegedly drawn on, you will not only be responsible for the cash that you sent the fraudster, but you could also face civil and criminal penalties.
