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Fraud Alert
Some CCU members with credit cards and debit cards have received an automated call from someone claiming to be "Great Lakes" and/or "Grayslake" Credit Union.
Please note these are fraudulent calls. Consumers Credit Union will never ask for your personal identification number (PIN), Account Number or any other personally identifying information.
Should you receive such a call, please do not reveal any personal information. Do NOT respond to any request to speak to a live person (typically, the calls ask you to "Hit 1;" if you get such a request do not do so). If you already provided your personal information, please contact us immediately at 877.275.2228. We also want
to assure you that your personal information remains both safe and secure with CCU.
Identity Theft
CCU provides protection for your money and your identification with updated features that ensure your security while banking online. We now require passwords to access your accounts, and we strengthened our Multi-Factor Authentication process to keep your account information out of other people's hands.
But we also need help from you! Be vigilant about what information you share, and follow these tips for a safer online banking experience.
Passwords
Unlike most things in life, you benefit from passwords that are more complicated, lengthier and more difficult to guess. Consider using capital letters, numbers and special characters (such as * & % @ +) in your password, and never share your password with anyone. If you suspect your password security has been compromised, change your password immediately.
Account Information
Your account information should be kept confidential. Avoid online offers that ask for any account information, passwords or personal identification numbers. CCU will NEVER ask for your private information through a solicitation, and neither will any reputable financial institution. If you receive such a request, beware that it is a scam!
Phishing Scams
CCU's enhanced security features are designed to ward off scammers in search of information. But be alert about popular ways that people try to get your information.
One method is through a phishing scam, in which scammers send an e-mail falsely claiming to be affiliated with a legitimate enterprise seeking personal information. That information will be used to steal a person's identity.
The e-mail directs the person to a web site that has been designed to appear legitimate, and the person is requested to update their personal information (financial account numbers, Social Security number, credit card numbers, etc.) by entering it into the web site.
Once entered, that information falls into the hands of scammers and thieves.
Such a scam recently was aimed at eBay users who received e-mails from a scammer who designed the e-mail and web site to appear as if eBay were requesting the information. The message alerted users that their account would be suspended if they didn't update credit card information that eBay already had in their database. The scammer counted on people with legitimate eBay accounts to click to the fake eBay web site and provide their personal information.
Additional Tips
Tips from the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency:
- Do not reply to e-mails warning you, with little or no notice, that your account will be suspended. Contact the company mentioned in the e-mail using a telephone number or Web address that you know is legitimate.
- Be careful about submitting financial or personal information through a Web site, even a legitimate one. Look at your browser's status bar to ensure that the "lock" feature is activated. Also, take notice that the Web address starts with "https," with the "s" indicating a secured page.
- Review statements from credit cards and financial institutions to ensure that no unauthorized activity has occurred on your accounts. If your statements are delayed in arriving, call your credit card company and financial institution to confirm your billing address and account balances.
- E-mail attachments and files can contain computer viruses that destroy your system and compromise your security. Be careful what you open, regardless of the sender.