Consumer Safety Tips

Consumer Safety Tips Consumer Safety Tips

Phishing
Checking
ATM
Visa Check Card
Visa Credit Card

Beware of phishing attempts over the phone and by email. The trend is on the rise, so beware. Phishing is a scam that involves Internet criminals who try to trick people into giving up personal information (such as credit card numbers, PINs, financial accounts or other sensitive information).

Recently phising scams involve a phone call where criminals attempt to extract personal information from you over the phone with you selecting a course of numbers on the phone pin pad. The callers use telephone solicitation and telephone call back techniques to prey upon your trust for telephone-based fraud alerts from your financial institution.

California Coast Credit Union will never send you an email requesting account verification or personal information. If you are ever in doubt of the validity of a phone call requesting personal account information, please contact California Coast Credit Union immediately. Nor will you ever receive emails from credit union networks or associations like CO-OP, CUNA, NAFCU, CU Service Centers or NCUA requesting that you confirm your accounts, give them your personal information or take an online survey.

If you’ve received or responded to such a phone call or email where you provided any personal information, please notify California Coast Credit Union immediately to authenticate the validity of the call or email. If you are asked to call a phone number regarding your account that seems suspicious, please call 1-877-495-1600 to notify the credit union.

The criminals who phish (pronounced “fish”) get more creative all the time! It's important to be aware of the common traits of phishing attempts so you'll recognize them as they evolve. Here are a few to consider.

They tend to involve requests using the name of business or a person who would be trusted.
They tend to use a scenario that is intriguing and create a sense of urgency to respond (i.e. will be asked to help solve a crime or win a prize.)
They often involve consequences like losing access to your financial account, your eBay account or getting arrested because you failed to show up for jury duty—consequences that make you act quickly and spend little time thinking about the request.
Many phishing attempts have misspellings and grammatical errors.

Another recent trend has been to play on events in the news that have generated public concern. For example, there is a current phishing email that appears to be from the NCUA and related to the TJX (Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Home Goods) data security breach, which was in the news in January. The false e-mail discusses the TJX breach, warning that "magnetic strip information was being stored and your PIN may have been captured". It strongly urges "NCUA's members" to update their information within the next 48 hours by clicking on a link provided in the email to "verify their credit union registration". Another phishing email that appears to be from the NCUA asks recipients to email or fax their Social Security Numbers and credit and debit card numbers so that the agency can update their database to monitor accounts to foil previous fraud attempts. As with other phishing emails, the criminals who generated these have been sending them to millions of email addresses, not knowing whether the recipients' information was or was not part of the TJX compromise and not knowing whether the recipients are members of credit unions. If you don't respond, they won't have your information.

Other phishing emails are designed to load malicious software on your computer to gather information or just to do damage. The best ways to avoid compromising your computer's security via this type of email are to ensure that you keep updated anti-virus software on your computer and avoid opening emails unless you know the sender and have confidence in their ability to maintain the security of their systems. Be careful of emails with attachments in particular.

Checking

Safety Tips - Checking

Store your checks, deposit slips and credit union statements in a secure and locked location. Never leave your checkbook in your vehicle.
Reconcile your account statement within 40 days of receipt in order to detect any irregularities, and notify the credit union promptly.
Never give your account number to individuals you do not know, especially over the telephone, through e-mail or on the Internet. Be particularly aware of unsolicited phone sales. Fraud artists can use your account without your authorization and you could be held responsible. Never give your personal identification number (PIN) to anyone, not even your financial institution
When you receive your check order, ensure all checks are present and that none are missing. Report missing checks to the credit union immediately. Should you fail to receive your order by mail, notify the credit union immediately. Checks could have been stolen or lost in transit.
If your home is burglarized, check your supply of checks to determine if any have been stolen. Look closely, because thieves will sometimes take only one or two checks from the middle or back of the checkbook. The longer it takes to detect whether any of your checks have been stolen, the more time the criminal has to use them successfully.
Do not mail bills from your mailbox. It is a favorite location from which criminals can gain possession of your checks. The Post Office is the best location to mail your bill payments.
Limit the amount of personal information on your checks. For example, do not include your social security number or drivers’ license number. A criminal can use this type of information to successfully steal your identity.
Do not leave blank spaces on the payee and amount lines.
Use dark ink that cannot be easily erased or covered over. Based on recent studies, only the kind of ink used in gel pens, has been found to be counterfeit proof.
Most check manufacturers have enhanced check stock to combat counterfeiting and check washing. This is why you should always purchase your supply of checks from the credit union or from a reputable company.

Your Liability - Checking

Reconcile your statements upon receipt. If your statement reflects transactions you did not make, notify the credit union immediately. If you do not notify us within 60 days after the statement was mailed or made available to you, you may not get any money back if we can prove that we could have stopped someone from taking the money if you had notified us in time.

How to contact the Credit Union - Checking

If you believe your checks have been lost or stolen, or that someone has transferred or may transfer money from your account without your permission, notify the credit union immediately by calling (858) 495-1600, or Toll Free outside Greater San Diego at (877) 495-1600, or by writing to us at P.O. Box 502080, San Diego, CA 92150-2080, or by email. Notifying the credit union as soon as possible is the best way to reduce your loss.

ATM

Safety Tips - ATM

Memorize your personal identification number (PIN). Do not write the number on your card or in your wallet.
Do not lend your card or reveal your personal identification number (PIN) to anyone. (even to the credit union or to other vendors that you do business with).
Look for well-lighted ATMs when transacting at night.
Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night.
If you notice anything suspicious when approaching an ATM, return later or use another ATM. Consider having another person accompany you to the ATM.
Have your ATM card ready to avoid searching through your purse/wallet at the ATM site.
Stand close to the ATM and block it with your hand to avoid detection of your personal identification number (PIN) and other account information.
When using drive-up ATMs, ensure doors are locked and keep the engine running.
Put your cash away as soon as the transaction is complete. Count the cash later in the safety of your vehicle or home.
If you notice anything suspicious while you are transacting business, immediately cancel your transaction, put your ATM card away and leave.
Never give information to strangers at the ATM, over the phone or on the Internet. Be aware of individuals who pose as credit union staff trying to get information from you.
The credit union strives to ensure ATM facilities are safe and convenient. Please tell us if you are aware of any problems with a California Coast Credit Union ATM. For instance, let us know if a light is not working or there is any damage to an ATM facility.

Your Liability - ATM

Reconcile your statements upon receipt. If your statement reflects transactions you did not make, notify us immediately. If you tell us within two (2) business days from the time you discovered the loss, theft or unauthorized use of your card, you are liable for no more than $50.00 if someone used your ATM card or personal identification number (PIN) without your permission. If you do not notify us within two (2) business days from the time you discovered the loss, theft or unauthorized use of your card or personal identification number (PIN) and we can prove we could have stopped someone from using your card or personal identification number (PIN) without your permission, you could be liable for as much as $500.00.

You will be liable for any use of your account that you have authorized, including any use of a card by a person you have authorized to use it. If you have authorized someone to use the card and/or or personal identification number (PIN), you are responsible for all transactions which that person or persons initiates at any time, even if the amount or transactions exceed what you may have authorized. To terminate another person’s authority to use your account, you must destroy the card(s) that the person(s) has been using and notify the credit union of this fact in writing.

How to contact the Credit Union - ATM

Notify the credit union immediately if any card or personal identification number (PIN) issued on your account is lost, stolen, or used in a manner unauthorized by you. Contact the credit union by calling (858) 495–1600, or Toll Free outside Greater San Diego at (877) 495-1600 and follow the prompts to report a lost or stolen ATM card, or by writing to us at P.O. Box 502080, San Diego, CA 92150-2080, or by email. Notifying us as soon as possible is the best way to reduce you loss.

Visa Check Card

Safety Tips - Visa Check Card

Activate your card(s) immediately upon receipt by calling the phone number indicated on your card. Should you fail to receive your card(s) by mail within 10 business days, notify the credit union immediately. The card(s) mail have been stolen from your mailbox or lost in transit.
To avoid fraud if your card is lost or stolen and to enable merchants to verify your signatures on sales drafts, you must sign the signature panel on the backside of your card immediately upon receipt. Do not write, “See ID” on the signature panel, as it is important to have your signature on the card for proper signature validation.
Once a transaction is authorized by a merchant, the authorization amount will be held against your checking account available balance until the transaction is deducted from your account. Authorized transactions are usually withdrawn from your checking account within three (3) business days. In some instances, authorizations may be held for an amount greater than the transaction amount, for example hotel charges or car rentals. It is recommended that you use your California Coast Visa credit card for these types of transactions.
Store your card(s) in a secure and locked location if you do not use them on a regular basis. Do not leave your cards in your vehicle.
Retain copies of all sales drafts, merchant, and ATM receipts until you receive you monthly statement, at which time you should verify that the transactions/charges are accurate and the amount is correct. If you discover any errors, unauthorized transactions, payments or alterations, notify the credit union immediately. (See how to contact the credit union below.)

Your Liability - Visa Check Card

Your Visa Check Card liability on a signature transaction (non PIN-based Visa transaction): You will be liable for $0 for unauthorized usage of your card.

For ATM/POS transactions performed with your Visa Check Card, refer to the ATM section

Falcon Fraud Protection

How to contact the Credit Union - Visa Check Card

If you believe your Visa Check Card has been lost or stolen, or that someone has transferred or may transfer money from your account without your permission, notify us immediately by calling (858) 495-1600 or Toll Free outside Greater San Diego at (877) 495-1600 and follow the prompts to report a lost or stolen Visa Check Card, or by writing to us at P.O. Box 502080, San Diego, CA 92150-2080, or by email. Notifying us as soon as possible is the best way to reduce your loss.

Visa Credit Card

Safety Tips - Visa Credit Card

Activate your card(s) immediately upon receipt by calling the phone number indicated on your card. Should you fail to receive your card(s) by mail within 10 business days, notify the credit union immediately. The card(s) mail have been stolen from your mailbox or lost in transit.
To avoid fraud if the card is lost or stolen, and to allow merchants to verify your signature on sales drafts, you must sign the signature panel on the back of your Visa credit card immediately. Do not write, “See ID” on the signature panel, as it is important to have your signature on the card for proper signature validation.
Store your card(s) in a secure and locked location if you do not use them on a regular basis. Do not leave the cards in your vehicle.
Retain copies of all sales drafts, merchant and ATM receipts until you receive you monthly statement, at which time you should verify that the transactions/charges are accurate and the amounts are correct. If you discover any errors, unauthorized transactions or payments or alterations, notify the credit union immediately.

Your Liability - Visa Credit Card

Reconcile your statements upon receipt. If your statement reflects transactions you did not make, notify us immediately. Your Visa credit card liability on a signature transaction (non PIN-based Visa transaction): You will be liable for $0 for unauthorized usage of your card.

You will be liable for any use of your account that you have authorized, including any use of a card by a person you have authorized to use it. If you have authorized someone to use the card and/or personal identification number (PIN), you are responsible for all transactions which that person or persons initiates at any time, even if the amount or transactions exceed what you may have authorized. To terminate another person’s authority to use your account, you must destroy the card(s) that the person(s) has been using and notify us of this fact in writing.

For ATM/POS transactions performed with your Visa Credit Card, refer to the ATM section.

How to contact the Credit Union - Visa Credit Card

If you believe your Visa Credit Card has been lost or stolen, or that someone has transferred or may transfer money from your account, without your permission, notify us immediately by calling (858) 495-1600 or Toll Free outside Greater San Diego at (877) 495-1600 and follow the prompts to report a lost or stolen Visa Credit Card, or by writing to us at P.O. Box 502080, San Diego, CA 92150-2080, or by email. Notifying us as soon as possible is the best way to reduce your loss.