Beware of E-mail Fraud aka "Phishing"

You may have heard the term “phishing” in the news lately. In case you haven’t, it’s not just “fishing” misspelled. It actually refers to unsolicited email that looks like it’s from a trusted institution — but in reality is an attempt to lure people into providing personal or sensitive account information on phony web sites. The information collected is later used to commit fraud.

The number of emails being sent and received is on the rise, so consumers must be wary. Overall, it is estimated that phishing incidents cost the nation $500 million a year.

Credible financial institutions will never ask you to verify information by a web site or email. Florida Credit Union holds your security in the highest regard and will never ask for your personal information via email.

Some criminals have bypassed email, and are now calling unsuspecting people requesting information. Never give your account number or social security number out over the phone if you didn’t initiate the call.

There are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself:
• Never type account information into a pop-up window.
Don't type account information into a pop-up window, even if it looks legitimate. We never request account information through pop-up windows.

• Don't respond to emails asking you to verify information.
We'll never send you an email asking you to verify information. If we have an issue with your records, we'll contact you another way.

• Be suspicious of grammatical or spelling errors.
These are usually indications of a fraudulent message.

If you believe you are a victim of fraud, contact FCU immediately.
If you have disclosed sensitive information in a phishing attack, you should also contact one of the three major credit bureaus.

Equifax: (800) 525-6285
Experian: (888) 397-3742
TransUnion (800) 680-7289

Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or at 1-877-IDTHEFT

If you find something that may look "phishy," please forward it to us at spoof@flcu.org and we will take a look for the legitimacy of the email. By avoiding these phishing attempts, you can help protect your account and your identity.