Be Aware!

Criminals Try For Your Personal Information In So Many Ways

It is a sad fact of modern life that criminals are always on the look out for ways to steal your personal information. RBCU is doing everything it can to help safeguard our members from ID stealing criminals, but it will always remain the responsibility of each and every member to do everything possible to protect themselves from these information predators.

The following examples are ways that unscrupulous men and women are successfully stealing the personal information of unlucky people around the country. Please take a moment to read them over and familiarize yourself with these tactics. This knowledge might allow you to recognize and avoid a criminal attempt to steal your information.

E-mail “Phishing”
Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is a scam to steal valuable information such as credit card and Social Security numbers, user IDs, and passwords. In phishing, also known as "brand spoofing," an official-looking e-mail is sent to potential victims pretending to be from their ISP, credit union, bank, or retail establishment. E-mails can be sent to people on selected lists or on any list, and the scammers expect some percentage of recipients will actually have an account with the real organization.

Land Line Telephone “Vishing” & VoIP (Internet Phones “Vishing”)

Vishing, (Voice phISHING) also called "VoIP phishing for the Internet phones," is the voice counterpart to phishing. Instead of being directed by e-mail to a Web site, an e-mail message asks the user to make a telephone call. The call triggers a voice response system that asks for the user's card number or other personal or financial information. The initial bait can also be a telephone call with a recording that instructs the user to phone an 800 number or another area code within or outside of the United States. In either case, because people are used to entering card numbers over the phone, this technique can be effective. Voice over IP (VoIP) is used for vishing because caller IDs can be spoofed and the entire operation can be brought up and taken down in a short time, compared to a land line  telephone.

Text Message “Smishing”
Smishing (SMS phISHING) is the mobile phone counterpart to phishing. Instead of being directed by e-mail to a website, a text message is sent to the user's cell phone or other  mobile device with some ploy to click on a link. The link causes a Trojan to be installed in the cell phone or other mobile device.

New! Mail Letter “Phishing”

This new scam occurs when the phisher is creating a letter and sending it through the mail to individuals to respond to the letter by calling a phone number. The phisher outlines in the letter that the individual must respond for their own protection. This scam is used in conjunction with other channels to steal valuable personal and financial information of the  individual receiving the letter.

REMEMBER: RBCU will never “out of the blue” ask our members to provide personal information by clicking on links in an email, text message, or by calling phone numbers specified by a letter other than those phone numbers considered “official” RBCU numbers. These RBCU phone numbers include our main 612-798-7100 number, our toll free 1-800-967-7228 number, and all phone numbers that begin with 612-798-71** (the credit union owns all numbers from “7101 – 7199”).

If you receive an email, text messge, or letter stating to be from the credit union and asking you to click a link or call a number other than those listed above, please do not do so! Contact the credit union immediately with any questions or concerns you may have with requests you receive. If you are unsure of anything, it is far better that you initiate communication with RBCU and learn the truth about an email or letter than take your chances with your important personal information.

However, there are a number of possible instances (such as forgetting your password for
online banking or for certain wire transfer transactions) when you will be called by the credit union to confirm your identity. This makes it imperative that RBCU has your most current and up-to-date phone number in our files. Please do not hesitate to provide this information to our staff.

Please also remember that when you initiate contact with RBCU through email, a phone call, or even a visit to an RBCU branch, you very well may be asked to provide proof of your identity to prevent fraud on your accounts.