CACCU Security Alert
Protect Yourself from Fraud 

Credit Union Advisory

If someone suspicious calls you at home saying they’re from California Community Credit Union and that they need personal information, ask for their name and phone number so that you can call them back. Then, hang up. Contact any branch office to report the incident and verify whether or not the person who called is an employee. We want to know if someone intrudes on your privacy using our name because it would constitute fraudulent activity that we should report.

It's Your Identity - Keep It Safe!

Identity theft is on the rise, affecting about 900,000 people per year. Victims have estimated that they've spent an average of 175 hours and $808 in out-of-pocket costs to fix identity theft problems.  California Community Credit Union wants to educate and help you keep your identity safe.

What Is "Phishing?"
Phishing (fish´ing) is the illegal use of e-mail and the Web to fraudulently pose as a legitimate business or entity in order to retrieve personal information from the addressee that can be used for unlawful identity theft activities. A fraudulent e-mail is sent that links the addressees to a seemingly authentic Web site where they are then asked to update or enter confidential information like passwords and PINs or social security, credit card and bank account numbers. This is sometimes referred to as Spoofing, due to the act of tricking the user into providing sensitive information. The information being sought is usually information that the actual business or entity would already have in their records.

California Community Credit Union will never ask you to verify account information via unsecured or unsolicited e-mail.

What We’re Doing to Help
California Community Credit Union is dedicated to keeping your accounts safe and secure.

California Community Credit Union will do its best to keep you informed regularly about issues that may regard the security of your accounts and personal information. Make sure you do your best to fight fraud by checking your account statements and activity regularly and keeping your PINs, passwords and personal information safe and secure, which includes shredding paperwork that contains this information. If you lose your PIN or password or find any irregularity on your account(s), notify the Credit Union immediately.

Learn More!
Read about how to protect yourself and learn more about Identity Theft at these informative Web sites:

• NCUA Toll-Free Fraud Hotline
• Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Resource Information Center
• 12 Scams Most Likely to Arrive Via Bulk E-Mail (FTC Web site)

Contact Information to Report Fraud

Credit-Reporting Agencies (Fraud Departments):

• Equifax Consumer Fraud Division: 888-766-0008
• Experian National Consumer Assistance: 888-397-3742
• TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department: 800-680-7289

Government Agencies:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 877-438-4338
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service: 800-275-8777
• Social Security Administration: 800-772-1213

To Report Check Fraud:

• Check Rite: 800-766-2748
• Chex Systems: 800-328-5121
• NPC: 800-526-5380
• Tele-Check: 800-366-2425

Protect Yourself from Fraudulent E-mails 

E-mail fraud is on the rise and requires the awareness of all consumers.  The most common type of e-mail fraud is phishing and spoofing.  This occurs when a criminal attempts to steal personal and financial information by sending you phony e-mails.  These e-mails usually appear to be from well-known companies and you may feel more secure and relaxed by the source.  The e-mail often directs the recipient to access a provided link that links the user to a fraudulent web site.  Many times the criminal will lure the consumer by alluding to an urgent matter concerning the account in question. 

California Community Credit Union will never ask you for personal information in response to an e-mail or at a web site you reached via an e-mailed link. 

If you receive an unsolicited request for California Community Credit Union account information via e-mail, web sites, or a pop-up window, please consider the request fraudulent and report it immediately.  In turn, this information will be forwarded to the FBI for further investigation. 

If you receive a fake e-mail that appears to be from California Community Credit Union, please be assured that this does not mean that your personal information has been taken from California Community Credit Union’s systems.  Email addresses can be obtained through randomly generated lists or sources that are available to the public. 

Avoid becoming a victim of fraud.  

Please review the following tips on how to protect your personal information: 

·    Be suspicious of any e-mail asking for personal information.  Legitimate companies will not ask you for this information via an e-mail. 

·    Never reply to a suspicious or unexpected e-mail informing you that your account will be closed, shut down or made inaccessible unless you confirm your account information.  DO NOT click any links in the e-mail. 

·    If you are uncertain about the request, contact the company that sent the e-mail through an address or telephone number you know to be genuine. 

·    Never provide financial information to anyone via e-mail, as it is not secure. 

·    Forward suspicious e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at uce@ftc.gov, and file phishing complaints with the State Attorney General’s office or through the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov. 

If you suspect that you unknowingly supplied personal or financial information on your California Community Credit Union account(s) by responding to an e-mail or on a fraudulent web site, please contact us immediately at (916) 386-1418.