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Keeping your personal information safe will always be our top priority. To help with this, we’re constantly keeping an eye out for scams and other relevant security information to pass along so you can help protect your personal information.

Current scams to watch for: 

 Fraudulent Text Messages and/or Calls
  • What’s happening:
    Using text messages and/or phone calls that appear to be coming from the financial institution (caller ID spoofing), fraudsters are asking members to verify recent card purchases as well as the 3-digit code on the back of their cards. After the card information is verified, the member is then asked to enter a series of numbers into his or her phone to confirm and process the dispute. The series of numbers is actually forwarding the member’s phone number directly to the fraudster, so he or she begins receiving the member’s calls.

  • Here's what you need to know:
    • Never give your PIN, the 3-digit security code on the back of your credit or debit card or any other personal information to anyone who calls or texts you, even if they claim to be with CCU.
    • We will never ask you to text this information or enter anything into your phone

  • What to do if you’ve received a fraudulent text or call: 
    If you receive a suspicious call that appears to be coming from CCU or another financial institution, hang up right away and contact the business directly to verify the call was legitimate. If you feel you’ve already been a victim of this scam, please contact us so we can block your card as soon as possible. To ensure you are dialing the correct number, do not call the number that called or texted you. Instead, use the number on the back of your card.
 

Other related scams:

Several scams have been identified that attempt to trick people into giving out their confidential credit and/or debit card information. Please be aware that CCU will never ask you to provide confidential card or account information through an unsolicited phone call, text message, or email.

Phone Scam
There are phone scams currently targeting financial institutions across the country and in the local area where members receive a call stating there are problems with their credit or debit card and to call a toll-free number. In addition, sometimes cardholders are instructed to "press 1" to re-activate their card and are directed to an automated system. The system prompts the cardholder to enter his or her card number, expiration date, PIN, and verification code (three-digit code on the back of the card). While the majority of these calls have been to cell phones, land lines may be targeted as well.

This is a scam and Corning Credit Union will never call requesting members to enter confidential information to re-activate their accounts or cards. However, please be aware that CCU does have a Visa Fraud Prevention Service and you may receive a call regarding your transactions if there is suspected fraudulent activity on your card(s). Please note that this Fraud Prevention Service will never prompt you to enter or state your card number, PIN, expiration date, or member account number.

At Corning Credit Union, protecting our members is our top priority. These phone scams are randomly generated by an automated system that dials combinations of phone numbers hoping the person who answers will give out his or her confidential card information. The scammers do not know whether you have a debit or credit card, and they also do not know whether you have one with CCU. They are simply attempting to trick you into giving away some type of confidential information.

Text Messaging Scam
Debit and credit card text messaging scams are also targeting financial institutions across the country. The text message instructs the recipient to call a toll-free number or possibly visit a website regarding a suspicious authorization or to reactivate a card. Once the number is called, the system solicits cardholder information.

Text messages requesting cardholder information are scams and are not authorized by Corning Credit Union in any way. If you have received this text message, please do not call the toll-free number or visit the website and provide information. Text message scams are randomly generated by an automated system that sends text messages to as many cell phone numbers as possible hoping the people who receive the text will give out their confidential card information.

If you still have the text message and are willing to forward a copy to CCU, you may do so by sending it to infosec@corningfcu.org.

Corning Credit Union will never ask you for personal or account information by sending a text message or requesting that you click a link in an email to provide your confidential information.

Online Scam
In addition, there are currently online banking scams that may attempt to gather credit card information from you. The scam may present a page which requests your credit card information, including your card number, expiration date, CVV code and PIN. Although this screen is designed to give the impression that it is coming from Corning Credit Union, it is actually being generated due to an infection on your computer. CCU's digital banking has not been compromised.

CCU will never ask you to enter credit card information online to verify your identity. When we do need to verify your identity, a security question that you have personally selected will appear on your screen after you log in.

If you are ever asked for confidential card information when logging into digital banking, please close your browser and contact CCU before attempting to log in again from your computer.

If you have already acted on any of these scams, please contact CCU to have your card blocked as soon as possible. You may do so by calling us at 607-962-3144 or 800-677-8506. After business hours, listen to the automated menu. Prompts will be given to report a card lost or stolen and to contact Fraud Prevention Services.

Caller ID Spoofing

Scam artists have found a way to "phish" by phone. Just like email phishing scams can make it appear that a message is coming from any email address the sender chooses, caller ID spoofing can make a call appear to come from any phone number the caller wishes.

To start, the scam artist goes to a caller ID spoofing service. These services allow you to "spoof" your telephone number. According to Camophone, with "Camophone's Privacy Telecom Caller ID spoofing and manipulation service, you can make calls anywhere to the United States and you are in control of the Caller ID that is sent to whoever you are calling."

The scam artist sets up an account and is then able to call consumers and have the caller ID display their local bank or credit union telephone number and caller ID. The consumer, feeling comfortable that they are seeing their own credit union's name, is more likely to divulge their confidential account information.

DON'T BE FOOLED. Just like Corning Credit Union would never send an email requesting your confidential information, we would never make an unsolicited call to request that information. If you do receive a call like this from ANY vendor that you do business with, including Corning Credit Union, hang up and call back using their published phone number.

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