Education Credit Union

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning taxpayers to beware of a recent scam where some Canadians are receiving a letter fraudulently identified as coming from the CRA and asking for personal information. The letter is not from the CRA. A PDF version of the letter is available on the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/alert.

The letter claims that there is “insufficient information” for the individual’s tax return and that in order to receive any “claims,” they will have to update their records. The letter attaches a form specifically requesting the individual’s personal information in writing, via fax or email, including information on bank accounts and passports. This letter is not from the CRA and Canadians should not provide their personal information to the sender.

All taxpayers should be vigilant when divulging any confidential information to third parties. The CRA has well established practices to protect the confidentiality of taxpayers’ information.

The CRA has notified the proper law enforcement authorities of this scam.

For information about this and other similar scams, or to report deceptive telemarketing activity, visit www.phonebusters.com, send an email to info@phonebusters.com, or call 1-888-495-8501.

E-mail virus threat
(August 14, 2008)
Please be aware of the following email virus threat:

Several credit unions advised Risk Management that their members have received unusual emails which purport to be sent on behalf of Carrington Mortgage Services. These emails tell the recipient that:

“A payment to Carrington Mortgage Services LLC in the amount of $8,845.63 has been made from your checking account. For further information about this transaction, please download attached invoice file (Password for ZIP archive; “invoice”).

Research on the internet reveals that the apparent purpose of these emails is to have the recipients open the attached zip file which contains some form of Malware or virus that will infect the recipient’s computer. Malware can do everything from hijack your computer using it to send spam to everyone in your own email program to more sinister applications like harvesting your passwords to your bank accounts and other private information. We refer credit unions to the two links below to websites with more information about these threats and the earlier version which was purportedly issued by United Parcel Service. We expect similar emails from different companies will be received by credit union members in future.

Canadian Central warns about fraud attempts
(July 25, 2008)
Credit Union Central of Canada warns that an organization calling itself Central Credit Union Capital Financial, or variations of that name, said to be operating out of 800 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, has no connection with Canadian Central.

Emails from the bogus group appear to be an organized international scam set up to defraud innocent victims of cash and confidential personal information. If you receive an email from this organization or are contacted by someone from this organization advising you that there are funds deposited for you and that you must establish your identity to have the funds released, do not to respond.
You should not send any personal information, such passport information or driver's licence and you should report such contacts to your local police. If you have already provided personal information please report this to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ontario Provincial Police via their website at www.recol.ca/ or call 1-888-495-8501.

Fraud Warning
(June 9, 2008)
Please note that an e-mail is circulating informing members that they have received funds and are required to complete and fax a document with personal information.

Here are the instructions required to activate an account:
Please use the bank telephone number as indicated below to access your Education Credit Union account as follows:

Dial the bank telephone 1 (416) 856-2146 press 1 for English then press 1
Enter your CCU account number = 4079423653305
Enter your 4 digit temporary account password = 3305 listen carefully and Press 3 to hear transaction on your account balance
Press 5 to change your temporary password

The e-mails are coming from admin@ccreditunions.com with reference to Jeff Mendel. Please advise your members that this e-mail is fraudulent, and advise them to take the necessary precautions.

Identity Theft

What it is and what you can do about it

Every year, thousands of people are victims of identity theft. While recent developments in telecommunications and computer processing make it easier for companies and consumers to reach each other, they can also scatter your personal information more widely, making life easier for criminals.

Identity theft is the unauthorized collection and use of your personal information, usually for criminal purposes. Your name, date of birth, address, credit card, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and other personal identification numbers can be used to open credit card and bank accounts, redirect mail, establish cellular phone service, rent vehicles, equipment, or accommodation, and even secure employment.

If this happens, you could be left with the bills, charges, bad cheques, and taxes.

How to fight identity theft

Minimize the risk.
Be careful about sharing personal information or letting it circulate freely.
When you are asked to provide personal information, ask how it will be used, why it is needed, who will be sharing it and how it will be safeguarded.
Give out no more than the minimum, and carry the least possible with you.
Be particularly careful about your SIN; it is an important key to your identity, especially in credit reports and computer databases.
Don't give your credit card number on the telephone, by electronic mail, or to a voice mailbox, unless you know the person with whom you're communicating or you initiated the communication yourself, and you know that the communication channel is secure.
Take advantage of technologies that enhance your security and privacy when you use the Internet, such as digital signatures, data encryption, and "anonymizing" services.
Pay attention to your billing cycle. If credit card or utility bills fail to arrive, contact the companies to ensure that they have not been illicitly redirected.
Notify creditors immediately if your identification or credit cards are lost or stolen.
Access your credit report from a credit reporting agency once a year to ensure it's accurate and doesn't include debts or activities you haven't authorized or incurred.
Ask that your accounts require passwords before any inquiries or changes can be made, whenever possible.
Choose difficult passwords – not your mother's maiden name. Memorise them, change them often. Don't write them down and leave them in your wallet, or some equally obvious place.
Key in personal identification numbers privately when you use direct purchase terminals, bank machines, or telephones.
Find out if your cardholder agreement offers protection from credit card fraud; you may be able to avoid taking on the identity thief's debts.
Be careful what you throw out. Burn or shred personal financial information such as statements, credit card offers, receipts, insurance forms, etc. Insist that businesses you deal with do the same.

Are you a victim of identity theft?

Report the crime to the police immediately. Ask for a copy of the police report so that you can provide proof of the theft to the organizations that you will have to contact later.
Take steps to undo the damage. Avoid "credit repair" companies: there is usually nothing they can do, and some have been known to propose a solution—establishing credit under a new identity—that is itself fraudulent.
Document the steps you take and the expenses you incur to clear your name and re-establish your credit.
Cancel your credit cards and get new ones issued. Ask the creditors about accounts tampered with or opened fraudulently in your name.
Have your credit report annotated to reflect the identity theft. Do a follow-up check three months after to ensure that someone has not tried to use your identity again.
Close your credit union or bank accounts and open new ones. Insist on password-only access to them.
Get new bank machine and telephone calling cards, with new passwords or personal identification numbers.
In the case of passport theft, advise the Passport Office.
Contact Canada Post if you suspect that someone is diverting your mail.
Advise your telephone, cable, and utilities that someone using your name could try to open new accounts fraudulently.
Get a new driver's licence.

If you suspect that someone has been using your SIN to get a job, or that your SIN has been compromised in some other way, contact Human Resources Development Canada at:

Social Insurance Registration
P.O. Box 7000
Bathurst, NB E2A 4T1
Email: sinnas@hrdcdrhc.gc.ca

To find out more about your privacy rights, call the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada tollfree at 1-800-282-1376, or write:

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner
112 Kent Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 1H3
Email: info@privcom.gc.ca