SC TELCO WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER SEND EMAILS ASKING YOU TO PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION......EVER!

If you receive an email claiming to be from SC Telco Federal Credit Union that is asking you to click a link or call a phone number to provide personal information...DON'T, even if the email contains our logo and looks like other correspondence you have received from us! You are being lured by an online thief to provide information that would possibly allow them to steal your identity. SC Telco will never ask you to provide any personal information through email. Examples of scam emails and other fraud can be found under the Member Alert section of our web site.

IF YOU HAVE PROVIDED PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SC TELCO ACCOUNTS AS A RESULT OF RESPONDING TO AN EMAIL, CALL US IMMEDIATELY AT 800-922-0446!

If you receive an email that appears to be from SC Telco that asks for personal information, please forward that email to mweb@sctelcofcu.org and then delete it from your inbox. If you are unsure if the email truly is from SC Telco, simply call us at 800-922-0446 to verify that we have sent you an email

You should also be very skeptical of any emails you receive from other financial institutions, online shopping sites, or merchants asking you to provide information. No reputable institution will ask you to provide any information over the internet or through email. Always be cautious of emails asking for personal information. Verify the email's source by calling the company from which it came. Be sure to look up the company's phone number in the phone book. Never call a phone number provided in an email.

WILL I EVER RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM SC TELCO?

There are times when we will send emails to our members. The majority of these emails are INFORMATION ONLY. Items like our e-newsletter, special promotions and relevant news articles regarding SC Telco are sent by SC Telco to our members from time to time. However, we will NEVER ask our members to provide personal information including account number, member number, social security number, user ids, passwords, or any other information that would identify you personally. If you are unsure about an email claiming to be from SC Telco, you can always call us at 800-922-0446 to verify that we are the source of the email.

WHAT ABOUT MESSAGES THAT APPEAR IN MY ONLINE BANKING INBOX?

Messages that are in your MONEYLINK Online account are secure. Because you have logged into MONEYLINK Online using your user id and password, you can have the confidence of knowing that the information provided is safe and secure. However, if you question a message that appears in your MONEYLINK Online inbox, you can call us at 800-922-0446 to verify that it is a valid message.

WHAT IS PHISHING?

Phishers use the Internet to steal money and personal identities. Victims usually receive fraudulent e-mails containing authentic looking company logos and familiar graphics and are asked to divulge financial information.

A study by the Gartner technology research firm shows 52 million U.S. Internet users received phishing e-mail during the past 12 months, from which 1.8 million consumers divulged information and one million fell victim. While consumers at banks and credit unions are prime targets, AOL and eBay users also are victims of frequent attacks.

Elizabeth was a victim of an AOL attack when she discovered her credit card number had been stolen from her online AOL wallet. She now enters her credit card number and password each time she makes a purchase, no longer keeping them saved.

As consumers such as Elizabeth catch on, phishers develop new ways to scam their victims. Many phishers now are trying techniques that have worked well for virus writers. The newest phishing scam is activated when you simply open an e-mail, no clicking required. Once infected, the scammers change the IP (Internet Protocol) address in your PC's Hosts file to their choosing. The fraudsters then associate the IP address with bogus bank/credit union Web sites, which forces your browser to go to fake Web sites that look like your financial institution's site.

A phisher using the name Robotecteur is responsible for sending out the e-mail virus "I Still Love You" to three million people. The virus recorded user names and passwords when the user visited any of 30 online banks and payment Web sites programmed in the virus. Robotecteur then received e-mails containing the sensitive information.

This form of phishing is different because the scammers don't have to lure you to a specific Web site. Instead, they get your username and password once you log in to a banking Web site. A keylogger then records your information and takes screen shots of your PC activity.

Unfortunately, most PC users will not detect a problem until it's too late, because most are not knowledgeable with Hosts files. While the attacks have only occurred in Brazil, Australia, and the United Kingdom, security experts expect to see the scam soon in the U.S. However, experts also say all phishing scams, these included, are preventable. As always, run and update antivirus software frequently and, if you don't have one already, install a firewall. More information about phishing is available on the Anti-Phishing Working Group Web site.

While phishing remains a high concern, experts also caution consumers against high-risk Internet use. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) reports 55% of filed complaints are related to Internet fraud. The median loss for an Internet attack is $195. While online banking is safe, consumers still are more fearful of online banking transactions than giving out financial information for online shopping. Experts advise consumers to monitor their accounts regularly rather than wait for the monthly mailed statement.

Experts say it's also a good idea to change your online banking and shopping account passwords every three to six months. And to avoid being led to fraudulent Web sites, retype the Web address in your browser rather than click through e-mail links. These simple steps can protect you from serious hassles down the road.