Security/Fraud Alerts

Text Message Warning

Fort Bragg FCU does not utilize text messaging to communicate with our members. We will not text message you to ask for personal financial information. Do not respond to any request to share any account information through a text.  

9/15/11- FRAUD ALERT! NCUA
Text Message Vishing Scam NCUA recently issued a fraud alert to inform credit unions of a scam that involves unsolicited text messages being sent to cell phones. The message urges the recipient to call a number provided to get information about account discrepancies and then solicits individual account information and pin numbers. Such a scam could be used to obtain personally identifiable information and credit union account access information for those who access their accounts using their cell phones.

Cell phone users should be wary of unsolicited text messages. Such messages should be deleted and all deleted text messages should be removed, if possible, as the perpetrators have been known to use Spyware in conjunction with their text message solicitation.

Do not respond to unsolicited text messages, email messages or telephone calls that ask for any account information or other private information. FBFCU will never contact you by email, text message or phone call to ask you to update or verify your account information. If you think your FBFCU accounts have been compromised, please contact us immediately.

6/27/2011- NACHA
The Electronic Payment Association that manages the development, administration, and governance of the ACH Network, the backbone for the electronic movement of money and data.) continues to receive reports that individuals and/or companies have received a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of having been sent from NACHA. These emails vary in content and format, and appear to be transmitted from email addresses associated with the NACHA domain (@nacha.org). Some bear the name of fictitious NACHA employees and/or departments.

NACHA itself does not process nor touch the ACH transactions that flow to and from organizations and financial institutions. NACHA does not send communications to individuals or organizations about individual ACH transactions that they originate or receive. NACHA has requested that you please forward fraudulent emails claiming to be from NACHA to abuse@nacha.org.

Another phishing attempt has surfaced that spoofs the Federal Reserve Bank as the sender. Like the emails purporting to be from NACHA, these emails claim that a recently-initiated transaction (in this case, a wire transfer), was cancelled. These emails have the appearance of being sent from "fedwire" at the Federal Reserve Bank.

If malicious code is detected or suspected on a computer, consult with a computer security or anti-virus specialist to remove malicious code or re-install a clean image of the computer system. Always use anti-virus software and ensure that the virus signatures are automatically updated. Ensure that the computer operating systems and common software applications security patches are installed and current.

Be alert for different variations of fraudulent e-mails.

Scam Alert: What storm victims should know
(4/20/2011) The North Carolina Department of Justice released these tips for storm victims to keep in mind to avoid scams:

     *Beware of fake disaster officials. This is a common ploy for burglars or people pushing expensive or unnecessary repairs. Ask for an ID for anyone who claims to be a government official.
     *Contact your insurance company. Some insurance companies require an adjuster's approval before work can be done. Take pictures and videos of the damage, if possible. Cover holes in your roof or walls with a tarp to prevent additional damage if you can do so safely.
     *Do not pay for work up front. Inspect the work and make sure you are satisfied before you pay. A reasonable down payment may be required for some projects, but don't pay anything without getting a written contract. Avoid paying with cash; use a check or a credit card instead.
     *Watch out for brokers who promise so-called "guaranteed" loans from FEMA, especially if they ask for an up-front payment. FEMA does not charge an application fee. Verify the credentials of people offering low-interest government loans and contact the agency directly to verify the person's employment.
     *Beware of any contractor who tries to rush you or who comes to your home to solicit work. If an offer is only good now or never, find someone else to perform the work. Seek recommendations from friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who have had work performed on their homes.
     *Get three written estimates for the work, if possible, and compare bids. Check credentials and contact the Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau to learn about any complaints against the contractor. Before work begins, make sure you get a written contract detailing all the work to be performed, its costs and a projected completion date.
     *For car repairs, shop around and compare written estimates. On major jobs, get a second opinion. If the mechanic recommends replacing parts, ask for the old parts. You may receive credit on some parts if the mechanic wants to keep them.
     *Beware of charity scams that use recent storms to make their phony pleas for donations sound more plausible. If a caller refuses to answer your questions about the charity, offers to come to pick up a donation in person or calls you and asks for a credit card, bank account or Social Security number, it may be a scam. To report telemarketing fraud, call the Attorney General's Office. To check up on a charity, call the Secretary of State's office toll-free at (888) 830-4989.  North Carolina residents should report scams and frauds to Attorney General Cooper's office by calling toll-free 1-877-5-NO-SCAM within the state or by filing a consumer complaint.  For more information go to http://ncdoj.com
In Fayetteville, contractors will need to go to the Development Services Department at Fayetteville City Hall to apply for a contractor authorization form at the inspections counter on the fist floor of City Hall. For more information on the permitting process please call 433-1707 or 433-1168. Consumers are asked to verify the City-issued authorization.
 
(Article reproduced with permission of the Executive Editor, The Fayetteville Observer)

  "Massive" Epsilon E-Mail Breach Hits Citi, Chase, Many More
(4/4/11)- Numerous companies' databases have been compromised, including Kroger, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, Walgreens and The College Board. The complete story can be found here. The information compromised is "limited to e-mail addresses and customer names only".

FinCed Soliciting Funds Scam
(03/21/11)- The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reminds the public to be alert to ongoing financial scams that attempt to solicit funds from unsuspecting victims. There is currently a scam involving an "employee" of FinCed calling and requesting payment on an existing or phony debt. 

Federal Alert Scam
(03/02/11) - There is currently an e-mail circulating, claiming to be from the Federal Reserve. Individuals and/or companies are receiving fraudulent emails that have the appearance of being sent from the Federal Reserve. Specifically, the email claims to be from the Federal Reserve Wire Network and appears to be sent from “fedwire [at] federalreserve.gov.” This is a fraudulent email. It was not sent by the Federal Reserve. Do NOT click on any of the links. Be aware that phishing emails frequently have attachments and/or links to Web pages that host malicious code and software. Do not open attachments or follow Web links in unsolicited emails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.