TAX ASSISTANCE

 The IRS has announced a campaign to educate taxpayers about the Earned income Tax Credit [EITC] and the availability of taxpayer assistance.  The EITC is availiable to those who earned $49,078 or less in 2011 from wages, self-employment or farm income.  The credit ranges from $474 for those without children to $5,751 for those with 3 or more qualifying children.

For FREE TAX FILING HELP CLICK HERE! 

SAFEGUARD YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION!

There is great concern that fraudsters are utilizing increasingly sophisticated techniques to override existing controls safeguarding your accounts. The fraudsters have the ability to transfer funds to money mules moving funds beyond the reach of the credit union and law enforcement surveillance. 
 
An effective tool in the fraudster’s arsenal is keylogging malware; a software program that records keystrokes entered on the PC transmitting a record of those keystrokes to the person controlling the malware. Keyloggers can be installed on your PC by simply by you visiting an infected website or by clicking on an infected website banner ad or email attachment! Keylogger files hide on the user’s PC and often go undetected by most antivirus programs.
 
Fraudsters use keyloggers to steal your logon ID, password, and challenge question answers. This information alone or in conjunction with stolen browser cookies loaded on the fraudster’s PC may enable the fraudster to log into your account and transfer funds to accounts controlled by the fraudster!
 
TIPS ON HOW TO STAY SAFE IN CYBERSPACE
1. SET STRONG PASSWORDS A combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers at least 8 characters in length. Change your password frequently and don't share it with others.
2. DON’T SEND PERSONAL, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IN A AN EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE
3. DON’T CLICK ON LINKS OR DOWNLOAD FILE ATTACHMENTS IN EMAILS Always hover over the link to see the address before clicking and if it looks suspicious do not click on it! Verify that the address matches the web page you expect. Harmful malware and viruses can be downloaded if you open a file attachment. Make sure you have the most current antivirus program on your computer which is set up to be updated and run automatically.
4. ALWAYS LOGOFF FROM SECURE SITES RATHER THAN JUST CLOSING THE PAGE
5. REVIEW YOUR ACCOUNT ACTIVITY REGULARLY   Report any unauthorized transactions immediately.

REMEMBER! NAEFCU will NEVER ask you for your password(s) or other confidential, personal information!!!

Please visit this site for more fraud prevention tips:
 

 FRAUD ALERTS

The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in (location)?'
When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497; just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card and ask for Security.' The caller then gives you a 6 digit number and states that you will need to refer to this Control Number; 'Do you need me to read it again?'

 Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works: 

The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and hangs up.

What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification. The real VISA will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's more difficult to actually file a fraud report. 

*****SCAM!!!!  IMPORTANT ALERT!!!!*****
Members as well as non-members have recently received emails, cell phone calls and text messages stating Debit/ATM cards have been deactivated and ASKING FOR YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION!  NEVER GIVE OUT ANY ACCOUNT INFORMATION!

 We will NEVER call or text message you and ask you for your account information! These calls usually start on weekends when fraudsters know we are closed -- THIS IS A SCAM!!!!

SWINE FLU

NAEFCU wants our members to know we have prepared a response strategy for a potential swine flu pandemic. According to experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the human swine flu outbreak is continuing to grow in the United States and internationally.

As your Credit Union, we want you to be informed on what to do for preparedness.  The following is a list of websites with the latest updates and current information:

Swine Flu preparedness and Your Credit Union
During a community outbreak, NAEFCU branches may be closed to protect both members and employees. The Credit Union has developed contingency plans to help ensure you have access to your accounts. We expect to maintain essential services such as direct deposit, ATM, and Debit/Credit Card processing; and have the following services available:
  • On-Line Branching - You may access all of your account information online.
    • To set up On-Line Branching you may either complete an On-Line Branching Application or call us during our regular business hours at 757-410-2000.
  • Direct Deposit – Your paycheck can be automatically deposited into your Share Draft account and funds available to you using your ATM/Debit card.
  • NAEFCU VISA ATM/Debit Card and VISA Platinum Credit Card
    • Apply for an ATM/Debit and VISA Platinum Credit Card
      • In the event of a pandemic, you can use the cards to make payments and track card transactions online, though On-Line Branching.
  • BillPay - Make single or automatic payments for bills (electric, cable, etc...) through BillPay. BillPay can be accessed through On-Line Branching and funds from your Share Draft account will be used for payments. 
  • Telephone automated response system - Dial 757-410-2000 and select option #3 - you may transfer funds between accounts and retrieve account balances via telephone.
  • E-Statements - As soon as you sign up, your statements will be archived for your viewing.
    • You may sign up for E-statements through On-Line Branching. 

Lastly, make sure you have emergency cash on hand.

In the event of a pandemic or unexpected event our services may be limited so please have the above items in place as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 757-410-2000.