Phishing and Vishing
Phishing and Vishing are criminally fraudulent processes used by scammers to acquire your sensitive personal information. Fulda Area Credit Union, the NCUA, or any other legitimate organization will never ask you to provide your personal information - as we already have this information on file.
If you are concerned that Phishing or Vishing may have affected you, contact the credit union immediately.
What is Phishing?
Phishing - Scammers attempt to obtain your personal information by pretending to be from a company you either know and trust or might deal with. Usually, Phishing attempts are done by email and tell you that you need to "activate", "update", or "verify" your information. And, that if you don't reply there will be some type of consequence such as "your online access will be deactivated" or "your debit card will be deactivated".
You will be instructed to click on a link in the email to complete the "activation", "update", or "verification". If you click on the link, you are directed to a website that looks like the legitimate organization's website, but isn't. It is a fraudulent website where they ask you to provide your personal information so they can steal your identity and/or account information. Never reply to an email you receive that is requesting your personal information and never click on the link provided in the email. Always type the URL address of the organization's legitimate website in your browser and make sure the website address does not change from the one you intended. Or, call the organization directly (using a phone number you know or locate from the phone book) to question the validity of the email.
What is Vishing?
Vishing - The voice counterpart to Phishing is called "Voice Phishing" or just Vishing. Instead of being directed by email to a website, you are asked to make a telephone call. The call triggers a voice response system that asks for your credit card or debit card number. Sometimes email blasts are performed to direct you to use a phone number instead of a website to respond to.
Cold calling is an automated dialing program that relentlessly dials a large number of telephone numbers in the hope of finding voice mailboxes, private exchanges, or computer modems to connect to leaving messages for a response call.
Tips:
- Avoid calling the number provided in the "Vishing" email, voice message, or text. Instead, call the organization using a phone number you know or locate the organization's phone number in the phone book.
- If you receive a "Vishing" phone call, hang up immediately.
- Do not automatically trust a phone number based on its area code.
- Never give out any information.
