CU Phone, e-mail scams move westward

Several phone and e-mail scams that have affected credit unions in the eastern part of the U.S. are now moving westward.

Some credit unions experiencing scams are:

> UW CU, Madison, Wis., whose members are targets of a hybrid e-mail/phone scam. An e-mail reads: "All UW credit union accounts were recently updated with a new security enhancement. For your security, we have temporary suspended your account." The e-mail mail then provides a bogus 800 number to call to reactivate the account. The UW CU sent a message telling members to never access the credit union site by clicking on a link provided in an e-mail, and that the credit union will never solicit personal or financial information in this manner.

>> Oregon Community CU, Eugene, Ore., which said scammers call its members on their home and cell phones, telling them that there is an issue with their accounts (kezi.com July 31). The scammers are deploying an automated service that asks members to give person information over the phone. The credit union told members not to respond if they receive one of these calls.

>> Kitsap CU, Bremerton, Ore., which received hundreds of calls last week about scammers attempting to get members' credit and debit card information (Kitsap.com July 31). The credit union said an unknown entity was blanketing the 360 area code with calls telling people that their credit or debit cards were suspended. Kitsap CU is one of the financial institutions the callers claim to represent. The credit union received 200 calls about the scam in a 15-minute period Thursday afternoon, said Ron Rogerson, Kitsap senior vice president of marketing. Kitsap CU reported the scam to companies that issue the cards, Bremerton Police, and the state attorney general's office, Rogerson added.

>> The TVA Employees CU, Knoxville, Tenn., issued a security alert regarding a phishing e-mail scam that attempts to solicit personal financial information from members. The e-mail tells members to call a phone number to update financial information. The credit union notified members that it will not use e-mails for confidential account notifications.