Ongoing Email/Internet Scams

Illegal Phishing Emails Posing As Your Credit Union
   Several local credit unions have been the subject of illegal phishing emails hoping to collect User Name and Password information. 
   These fraudulent messages uses graphics from the credit union websites, and encourage members to call a fake phone number or click on a fake website link to "confirm" personal financial data.
    REAL Financial does not send unsolicited emails to our members. If you receive an email purporting to be from the credit union or an affiliate, delete it immediately. Please call us if you have any questions.

Illegal Phishing Emails Posing as CUNA or the NCUA
   Similar to the fake credit union scam described above, these fraudulent emails claim to be from CUNA or the NCUA. CUNA is a national trade association for credit unions, and the NCUA is the branch of US government that insures and regulates credit unions. Neither organization has access to financial data of individual credit union members.
    If you receive an email purporting to be from the credit union or an affiliate, delete it immediately and call us if you have any questions.

Nigerian-Style Phish Offers Millions as Bait
    A current phishing email gives an old scam a new twist, claiming that a large sum of money awaits the recipient in a newly opened bank account. 

"Gift Cards for Survey" Scam
   An email promises gift cards or merchandise from major retailers for filling out an online survey. Among the "survey" questions are the name of your financial institution, passwords, email addresses, and other personal and account information. 
   If you receive an email of this kind, do not click on any link or provide any information about yourself or any of your accounts. 

Cashier's Check Scam
   The victim is selling a used car or something via eBay. A buyer sends a cashier's check that is over the amount of the agreed sale price, and -- when the mistake is discovered -- asks the seller to send a check for the difference to a third party.
    Perhaps weeks later, the original cashier's check is returned to the seller. It is a counterfeit, and is totally worthless. The victim is held liable for the counterfeit check when it is returned and must reimburse the financial institution. Many times the perpetrators of these frauds are overseas, so there is little hope of the victim recovering from them.

Identity theft is a growing 
problem in the United States. How can you prevent it? What can you do if it happens to you? Click here to learn more.

DON'T BE A VICTIM!

• Your credit union cannot tell you when a check you deposit will clear.
• Even when the credit union lifts its "hold" on funds from a deposited check, that does not mean the check has cleared. 
• If the check is later returned, you will be held liable for the bad check.

If funds are to be held by a third party, or escrowed, be sure it is a party you can trust.
Exercise Extreme Caution When Selling Goods Yourself!