The newest trend in bank fraud is hitting close to home, as the
University Credit Union announced Tuesday that an online e-mail
scam from the bank is currently circulating.
The scam ““ using a technique commonly referred to as
“phishing” ““ is a fraudulent notice from the
Credit Union which directs recipients to a Web site and asks them
for personal information.
“It’s a typical phishing scam,” said Steve
Sercu, a spokesman for the Credit Union, adding that the message
takes students to a Web site that has stolen Credit Union graphics
and is continually sending spam to e-mail addresses ending in
“edu.”
As of yet, no one from UCLA has provided the fraudulent Web site
with their credit card number or any other personal information,
Sercu said.
The fraudulent e-mails claim that a user’s account will be
liquidated unless the necessary information is entered on another
site, which is not true, he said.
It is more common for larger sites such as Bank of America and
PayPal to be the targets of phishing scams. The newest con reveals
that even smaller, local sites are susceptible.
Credit Union officials said they hope that by notifying students
they can prevent any fraud from taking place.
“University Credit Union did not and will not send out
e-mail notices asking members to enter their account numbers. This
is an attempt by thieves to trick consumers into providing personal
information for illegal use,” said Chuck Bumbarger, president
and chief executive officer of the credit union, in a press release
from the credit union.
The University Credit Union predominately serves UCLA, but also
extends its services to students at Pepperdine University, Loyola
Marymount University and the Getty Museum. All are potential
targets of the scam.
Such phishing scams are becoming more prevalent and educating
students about them is imperative, said Scott Stane, vice president
of strategic planning and marketing at University Credit Union.
“With the growth of the Internet and e-mail, these scams
can take on a very professional look. Consumers have to use common
sense and a little skepticism when receiving e-mails that are
unsolicited,” Stane said in the press release.
Stane added that if students are unsure as to whether an e-mail
is fraudulent, they should immediately call the bank.
“No matter how official the notice or the phone call, do
not respond to the request. If you are unsure, ask for a phone
number or call the phone number you know to be real, so you can
verify if the request is legitimate,” he said in the press
release.
The University Credit Union offers an array of banking services
including checking, saving, credit cards and loans.