Identity Theft Reports
Fraudulent Phone Calls about our Debit Cards
Be cooperative but cautious with the U.S. Census
Members receive bogus calls claiming debit card deactivation
VISA Check Card Scam
Heartland Payment Systems Discovers Data Breach
Text Message Claiming to be from the NCUA
E-mail Claiming to Be From the FDIC
ID Theives are Targeting Kids
Phone Call Scam
Social Security Phishing Scam

Fraudulent Phone Calls about our Debit Cards
July 28, 2010
Some of our members are getting fraudulent cell phone calls about their accounts. The members have had debit cards with us and the message is stating that a 3rd party has accessed their account and the accounts have been blocked. The message states that it is a federal credit union and their account has been suspended.

If you receive such a call, please remember that we would never contact you in this manner. Do not give out any personal information over the phone. Note: We may contact you if we notice suspicious activity on your card to verify that the transactions were yours but will never ask for your personal information.

Be cooperative but cautious with the U.S. Census
January 7, 2010
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. 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.

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

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.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org

Members receive bogus calls claiming debit card deactivation
October 28, 2009
We have been made aware of a new cell phone scam that is targeting people with debit cards. Some members have received automated cell phone messages stating that "All Glacier Hills Debit Cards have been DEACTIVATED" or something similar. The members are instructed to respond to the alert in order to reactivate their cards. This is a scam. If you receive this automated phone message, please ignore it. Please be assured that your card has not been deactivated.

VISA Check Card Scam
March 17, 2009
In this scam, consumers are falsely notified by e-mail that their Visa(r) cards may have been compromised due to fraudulent activity.

The e-mail provides official-looking information about Visa's commitment to fighting fraud, along with a false "Case ID Number." It also directs cardholders to verify their identity through the Web in order to continue using online services. Please see below for an example of a fraudulent e-mail.

Dear Visa Cardholder,

Continuous Monitoring is an integral part of Visa's multiple layers of security. In addition to other fraud monitoring tools, we can often spot fraud based upon transactions on the card that are outside of cardholders typical purchasing pattern.

This allows us to spot fraudulent activity as quickly as possible and acts as an early-warning system to identify fraudulent activity.

During a recent checkout we detected suspicious activity and your Visa card may have been compromised. Fraudulent activity made it necessary to limit your card for online services.

Your Case ID Number is: DD7Q8QQ9EDR7

Conform to our security requirements and in order to continue online services with your card, we must validate your identity.

Please click here to verify your identity.

Visa takes online security very seriously so that you can shop safely on the Internet. As part of our commitment to fighting fraud we have the right to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, or violations of the terms and conditions for using Visa.

Sincerely,
Visa Customer Service.

Neither Visa nor MasterCard(r) will request personal information, account details, or card information over the telephone or through e-mail. Cardholders should promptly notify their card-issuing financial institution, local law enforcement, or the FBI at www.ic3.gov if they receive suspicious calls or e-mails. They should also monitor their statements for any unfamiliar transactions.

If you have any questions, please call SHAZAM Fraud Operations at (800) 537-5427, ext. 2899.

Heartland Payment Systems Discovers Data Breach
January 26, 2009
Below is a release from a payment processor for VISA and MasterCard. Glacier Hills Credit Union has not had any reports of suspicious activity on our cards. We encourage all of our members to check your statement regularly for suspicious activity.

Heartland Payment Systems, the sixth-largest payments processor in the U.S., announced Monday that its processing systems were breached in 2008, exposing an undetermined number of consumers to potential fraud.

While the company continues to assess the damages inflicted by the attack, Robert Baldwin, the company's president and CFO, says law enforcement has already noted that the attack against his company is part of a wider cyber fraud operation.

"The indication that it is tied to wider cyber fraud operation comes directly from conversations with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Secret Service," Baldwin says. The company says it believes the breach has been contained.

Heartland, headquartered in Princeton, NJ, handles approximately 100 million transactions per month, although the number of unique cardholders is much lower. "It is still a question as to the percentage of the data flow they were able to get," Baldwin says, adding he would not speculate on the number of cards potentially exposed.

No merchant data or cardholder Social Security numbers, unencrypted personal identification numbers (PIN), addresses or telephone numbers were involved in the breach. Nor were any of Heartland's check management systems.

For more information on the breach, the company has set up a website: www.2008breach.com. Heartland advises cardholders to examine their monthly statements closely and report any suspicious activity to their card issuers.

Text Message Claiming to be from the NCUA
March 26, 2008
Members have been receiving text messages on their cell phone from NCUA saying there is unusual activity on their account. Do not send your account number. Please report suspicious activity to the police and your cell phone company.

E-mail Claiming to be from the FDIC
March 18, 2008
The FDIC has received a number of reports of a phishing e -mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC.

This e-mail asks "Who is FDIC?" and "What can FDIC do for you?" It warns against identity theft and states that the "FDIC is presenting a new card insurance which can restore you up to $500 if you are a victim of Internet fraud." The e -mail directs recipients to click on a link to be redirected to "an online signup page for this program."

This e-mail is a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information from consumers. Consumers should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e -mail and, under any circumstances, not provide any personal information through this media.

ID Thieves are Targeting Kids
November 16, 2007
IRVINE, Calif—Identity thieves are increasingly setting their sights on children. Child identity theft, the stealing of a minor’s personal information and the establishment of lines of credit in his/her name, is being reported at an “alarming rate,” according to one analysis, with many parents and children not realizing that the child’s identity has been stolen until he or she applies for credit much later in life.

The ID Theft Data Clearinghouse, which is run by the Federal Trade Commission, reported that more than 10,000 identity theft complaints were filed on behalf of victims under 18 years old in 2006, up from 6,512 reported cases in 2003. Parents seem concerned about the issue, although unsure of what to do. A new survey from Experian-Gallup revealed that 74% of consumers feel it would be “easy” or “somewhat easy” to steal a child’s identity. Forty-six percent of parents surveyed think it is “likely” or “somewhat likely” that a child could have his or her personal information stolen.

“Instances of child identity theft will likely to continue to grow as minors become more active online and on other information sharing platforms,” said the sponsors of the Experian-Gallup survey.

“Children aged nine to 17 are much more connected to the rest of the world with skyrocketing growth rates in Internet and cell phone use,” said Maxine Sweet, vice president-public education at Experian. “These platforms facilitate information exchange, and if left unmonitored, could lead to enhanced identity theft. Minors and adults alike need to take precautions to keep their personal information safe. New products are emerging to help families protect against identity theft aimed at minors.” Experian’s Maxine Sweet has this advice for parents to safeguard their children’s identity:

• Educate your children about the importance of keeping personal information private. Teach them to come to you should anyone ask for their Social Security Number and address.
• Closely monitor your child’s online activity. Many sites ask for personal information, which can open the door for identity thieves.
• Monitor the type of mail your child receives. Credit card advertisements, unexplained merchandise or collection notices could all be indications of identity theft. Whenever possible, sign up for items like magazine subscriptions under your own name rather than your child’s name.
• Think twice before giving out your child’s Social Security Number, Giving your child’s Social Security Number is voluntary even when directly requested—even when filling out medical forms at a doctor’s office you do not need to provide SSNs.
• Don’t give out even the last four digits of your child’s Social Security Number. These last four numbers can be easily used to obtain the full Social Security Number, creating numerous opportunities for a child’s identity to be stolen,
• Do not let your children carry their SSNs in their wallet

Phone Call Scam
October 30, 2007
A member received a phone call regarding her Glacier Hills Credit Union checking account and problems with checks written. This is a scam attempt with random calls to West Bend hoping to connect with a member who will fall for the ploy.

Social Security Phishing Scam
September 2, 2007
The Social Security Administration issued a warning about a new e-mail scam being circulated with the subject, “Cost-of-Living for 2007 Update.” The message appears to be from the Social Security Administration and provides information about the benefit increase for 2007. The individual is asked to register for a password and to confirm their identity by providing personal information such as the individual’s Social Security number, bank account information, and credit card information.

You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident of the source to whom you are providing the information.