As with all banking transactions, whether in a branch,
at an ATM or online, you should always be cautious to protect your
identity. WestStar Credit Union has implemented extra security measures
to protect your information. It is important that you do what you
can to keep your information safe too. Here are some tips to help
you stay safe online:
- Never respond to an email asking for personal or login information.
- Always make sure that the site address listed in the address
bar of your web browser is correct (i.e. www.weststar.org) when
logging in.
- Let us know if you receive a suspected fraudulent email: call
us at (702) 791-4777 or (800) 829-9328 or email us at eservices@weststar.org.
- Review your credit report at least once per year for accuracy.
You can receive one copy of your report free per year, using
annualcreditreport.com
- To learn more about how to protect yourself from all kinds
of scams
- Don't fall victim to internet scam artists - visit www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
to learn how to protect yourself.
Weststar will never send you an email
or text message asking for your online ID, passcode or any other
private or personal information.
See our Fraud Prevention brochure here.
ATM & VISA Check Card Fraud Policy
To protect our members from fraud, WestStar
Credit Union may block the purchase ability of the VISA Check Card
in foreign countries. If you plan on traveling outside of
the United States, please contact us at 800-729-9328, so we can
verify Visa Check and ATM availability for your destination.
For your protection, due to a high incidence of fraud, no Visa Check
or ATM activity will be processed in the following countries.
Turkey - Effective: 07/14/2006
Alternative payment methods must be made, such as your WestStar
Credit Union Credit Card.
Latest CONSUMER ALERTS:
CU Members Victimized
in Smishing Attacks 7/19/11
In the last few days, credit unions from around the country have
reported their members are receiving bogus text message (smishing)
alerts. The text message indicates it is from Credit Union Services
and advises the member to call the number provided in the text
message to have their card reactivated. This is a scam as no credit
union would ever ask a member for this type of information using
text messaging.
Weststar will never send you an email or text message asking
for your online ID, passcode or any other private or personal
information. If you ever receive any such request, please report
it to us immediately so that we can take action, and please DO
NOT respond to these requests. This will protect your personal,
private information from reaching those who intend to use it for
their own benefit.
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Phishing Attempt
Email Using The NCUA Address 10/13/10
Be aware of a recent phishing attempt in which member credit card
account numbers, expiration dates and electronic signatures were
solicited for via email. In cases reported to NCUA, the perpetrator(s)
sent fraudulent emails, representing to be from the NCUA, to credit
union members and the general public. The emails state the NCUA
will add $50.00 to the member’s account for taking part in
a survey. The link embedded in the message directs members to
a counterfeit version of NCUA’s website with an illicit survey
that solicits credit card account numbers and confidential personal
information.
NCUA will never ask credit union members or the general public
for personal account or personally identifiable information as
part of a survey. Any email that alleges to be from NCUA and asks
for account information is fraudulent and should be treated as
suspicious. They have taken steps to shut this site down, but
credit union members should remain alert to possible variations
of this fraudulent email.
We encourage you to take the following additional precautions:
- Scan affected computers using updated anti-virus software.
- Enable automatic updates for anti-virus software and computer
operating systems.
- Install security patches for common software applications
promptly.
- Be aware that phishing emails frequently have links to Web
pages that host malicious code and software.
- Do not open unsolicited or unexpected email attachments.
- Do not follow Web links in unsolicited emails from apparent
federal banking agencies, instead, bookmark or type the agency's
Web address.
- Call the agency using a known and appropriate telephone number
to verify the legitimacy of the message and attached file.
Members affected by this scam, and variants of this scam, should
be advised to forward the entire email message to Phishing@ncua.gov.
Additionally, formal complaints concerning any suspected fraudulent
email can be filed with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)
at www.ic3.gov.
The IFCC is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the National White Collar Crime Center.
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Online Banking,
Bill Paying and Shopping: 10 Ways to Protect Your Money 3/15/10
Online banking, bill paying and shopping are conveniences that
most people want to enjoy. And most of the time, high-tech transactions
are completed quickly and without a glitch. However, just as with
other transactions, in a small percentage of cases something goes
wrong. That's why you need to take precautions against theft and
errors.
Click
here to read the whole story on the FDIC website.
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Warning! Don't Be The Victim Of A Check
Scam!
If someone sends you a check or money order then asks you to
deposit the item into your account and wire transfer money out
of your account, WATCH OUT! You may become the victim of a popular
scam.
How does the scam work?
The scam usually occurs when you are selling merchandise via the
internet or conversing in various "friendship" Internet
Relay Chat "rooms". However, other variations of the
scam include:
- Receive overpayment for an item you placed for sale over
the internet.
- Receive notice you have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes.
- Promise of receiving a percent of money for the transferring
of money for the transferring of funds to your bank account
for safekeeping, usually from outside the United States.
- Inheritance from a recently deceased distant relative you
had no previous knowledge of.
- Unsolicited emails, faxes or letters requesting an immediate
response.
Regardless of the pitch, all scams involve you being contacted
by individuals who agree to forward you a check or money order.
After the item is deposited, you may be contacted and told an
elaborate story and then asked to wire transfer back all or some
of the money.
After you withdraw or wire the money from your account, it is
then determined the check or money order you were given is a counterfeit.
At this time, the check or money order will be returned to the
credit union/bank unpaid and the full amount will be deducted
from your account.
There are variations to this scam, but you need to stop and ask
yourself a question: why would you wire money to a stranger you
met through the internet or correspondence only?
For more information on Check Fraud visit www.FakeChecks.org.
Who is responsible for the loss to my
account?
You are responsible for the check(s) and money order(s) you deposit
into your account. Only you can determine the risk of the business
transaction you entered in. You were the one whom made arrangements
for the check to be sent to you. If the check or money order is
counterfeit or is returned unpaid for any reason, you are fully
responsible for any loss related to the bogus item. In most cases,
the credit union/bank can immediately debit your account(s) or
file litigation to recover the money.
Why did the credit union/bank allow me
to withdraw the money?
Federal law required credit unions/banks to make deposited funds
available to you usually within 1 to 5 business days. The fact
that you can withdraw cash from your account shortly after depositing
a check or money order does not necessarily mean the item you
deposited is good. Counterfeit and bogus checks and money orders
can sometimes take weeks to be discovered and returned to your
credit union/bank unpaid.
Why didn't the credit union/bank know
the check was bad?
At WestStar, our employees are trained to look for counterfeit
items to prevent our members incurring a loss. Credit union/bank
employees merely process check and money orders and in some cases
cannot determine if the item is real or not. Remember, you are
ultimately responsible for the items you submit to the credit
union/bank.
If you believe you have been the victim of or are currently being
solicited by a fraudster, contact your local police department
immediately. If you want more information or are the victim of
one of these scams, please visit the websites below:
www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
www.ic3.gov
www.usps.com/postalinspectors
www.ftc.gov
www.iafci.org
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