Privacy and Security

The holiday season brings out the best in most people, but there are some who take advantage of the opportunity to commit fraud against unsuspecting consumers. Here are two of the more common schemes targeting consumers and some general recommendations to help reduce the risk of loss:

Victims are receiving fraudulent e-mails that appear to be coming from NACHA, claiming that the Electronic Payments Association (or the recipient financial institution) has rejected an ACH transaction initiated through their bank account.

An e-mail claiming to come from the IRS tells recipients that their “Federal Tax Payment” was recently initiated from their bank account and was returned by their financial institution. The email contains a report to see the details regarding the canceled tax transaction. The report file takes you to a fake website. If you receive this email, do not open the report.

We have received reports of a new automated call scam where perpetrators are posing as Southeast Financial. The caller claims that your debit card needs to be reactivated and instructs you to enter your debit card number and possibly other personal information.

Southeast Financial will not contact you to ask for information we already have, including account numbers and debit or credit card numbers. If you believe you are a victim of this scam, please contact 1.888.908.7829 to report your card stolen.

We have received reports of a new automated call scam, this time posing as Southeast Financial card security. These calls instruct victims to press 1 or 2 to cancel a compromised card, then enter their credit card number. Southeast Financial will not contact you to ask for information we already have, including account numbers and credit card numbers. If you believe you are a victim of this scam, please use the following information to report your card stolen: For credit cards, call 1.800.449.7728. For debit cards, call 1.888.908.7829.

We are aware of an automated phone and/or text message scam currently targeting both our members and non-members. The fraudulent message states there is a problem regarding your debit card and asks for your 16-digit account number and other private information to fix the problem. Do not give out any personal or account information. The Credit Union will never call you asking for information that we already have.

Individuals and companies alike have been receiving fraudulent emails with the appearance of being sent by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve would not send communications by email. If you receive an email like this, or any email of a suspicious nature, please do not click on any of the links.

The National Automated Clearinghouse Association (NACHA) is warning customers that it has been victimized by a new phishing attack, the second in less than a month for the organization.

"Thank you for your order." Those five words were all it took to deceive victims of a recent phishing attempt targeting Amazon.com customers.

We have received reports that fraudulent emails, appearing to be sent by NACHA, the National Automated Clearing House Association, are being received by individuals and companies alike. Please do not respond to these emails or follow any enclosed links.