Other Scam Alerts

The following are samples of Craigslist ads targeting credit union members as a part of this recruitment scam:

If you are an ABC Credit Union Member…MAKE SOME EXTRA $$

Need to find an XYZ Credit Union Member!
I was just approved for a Visa Credit Card with XYZ Federal Credit Union and they called me and said that they can not process the application if I do not know any existing member or if I am not employed at one of the list companies they have. To become a member you have to know a member. So now my app is on hold until I can find someone who is already a member. If you know someone, please tell them to contact me. I am willing to pay $500. And all they ask for is the member’s name and member number. Thanks.

ABC and XYZ Members Needed!!!
If you are an ABC or XYZ Federal Credit Union member, we will pay you $75.00 per member to sponsor others that would like to join the credit union but do not meet the membership requirements. Please email for details.

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

How do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a possible fraudster?

The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice:

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering any questions. Also, beware that you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.
• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security Number or credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, the Census Bureau will not ask for your Social Security Number or credit card and bank account numbers, nor will employees solicit donations.
• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachment in an Email supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Some members of the community are being contacted by telephone from a blocked number by males asking “guess who this is?” Victims, often thinking that they may recognize the caller’s voice, usually guess with a friend or relative’s name. The caller then pretends to be that person and claims that they have been arrested and need money to be released. Once the victim agrees to pay the funds requested, the caller then suggests that the victim call his friend who will collect the money. The friend of the caller then arrives at the victim’s home and collects payment.The victim soon realizes that their friend or relative was never arrested and that they have fallen victim to a scam.

Theft and Fraud Credit Union of Georgia has been alerted of the following theft and fraud scam targeting residents in the States of Georgia and South Carolina.Criminals are breaking into consumers’ vehicles while the vehicle has been left unattended during baseball games at local parks or while the consumer is shopping. During the break-in, the thief is stealing items like wallets, Driver’s Licenses, check books, and ATM/Debit Cards. These criminals are then forging the stolen checks by making them payable to another recent theft victim and then using that victim’s ID to cash the instrument. With proper ID, which the criminal has, this type of crime is easy to pull off.

It is of the utmost importance that you protect your personal and financial information. We strongly advise that you do not leave information of this nature unattended in your vehicle or elsewhere at any time.