GPO credit union customers fall prey to phone scam

Hundreds of concerned customers contacted GPO Federal Credit Union’s Oneida branch Monday after receiving fraudulent phone calls telling customers their card was suspended. The victims were then asked to press 1 to reactivate and then enter their 16 digit card number. GPO says that this was a scam and urges all customers to protect themselves by never giving out account information over the phone.

The company issued this statement on their website Monday:
8/24/08: We have been notified of a fraudulent telephone call, claiming to be from GPO Federal Credit Union.
This automated (recorded) telephone call states that your account is suspended, and to reactivate your account you must press 1. THIS PHONE CALL DID NOT ORIGINATE FROM GPO.
PLEASE REMEMBER to NEVER give out your account information via telephone or email. If the caller is truly from your Credit Union, they already have your account information and DO NOT need you to provide it to them.

The company also issued the following press release:

Consumers need to guard their personal financial information to avoid losses and to protect their identity.
Recently, financial institutions throughout Central New York have seen a rise in fraudulent phone calls, e-mail phishing attempts and even fraudulent text messages made to customers and non-customers alike. The criminals do not have access to personal information, they just hope to reach a few victims who may fall for the scam.

“Fraudsters are blanketing the area with automated phone calls, as well as sending out e-mails requesting personal account information,” said John Prumo, president and CEO of GPO Federal Credit Union. “These criminals hope that victims will provide account numbers and personal identification numbers giving them access to available funds.”

“The criminals, who oftentimes are based outside of the United States, hope to hit the jackpot when a customer releases their personal information,” Prumo added.

By law, financial institutions must safeguard account and personal information. GPO’s policy, which is similar to most financial institutions, is to never ask for confidential information such as usernames, passwords and credit or debit card information via e-mail or by phone.

Most financial institutions take a proactive approach when a consumer inadvertently releases personal information. “At GPO, we immediately block access to our members’ accounts and re-issue new debit and credit cards.”

In addition, GPO and other financial institutions work closely with authorities to shut down the criminals. Agencies involved in stopping solicitations include the US Secret Service and the Federal Trade Commission.

“If you receive a phone call or an e-mail message requesting personal information, do not respond,” Prumo said. For those who need reassurance that their account is safe, he recommended contacting their local branch at the phone number provided on a statement or in the phone book.

“These criminals can’t touch your account if you don’t give out information,” he added.

For more information, stay tuned to cnylink.com and pick up next week’s edition of the Oneida Press.

CATEGORY: Accounting
EDITION: Madison Eagle

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