There is a telephone scam going on that is being reported to us by members. It is an automated message that tells you that your ATM card and/or debit card has been "deactivated". The message then asks if you would like to "reactivate" your card by providing your card number. DO NOT give any information and hang up immediately. If you have already given information about your card call the 800 number on the back of the card to close it and then contact us immediately at (218)-722-5931.

Winter 2007/2008

Have you received a cashier’s check or other check from someone you don’t know, and have they asked you to wire money to them?

Many foreign lottery scams and fake cashier’s check scams are aimed at Minnesota citizens. The scam artist sends the victim a counterfeit check and then asks the victim to wire money to the scam artist. By the time the fake check bounces, the money has already been wired to the scam artist in a foreign country.

Please keep this in mind:

• Foreign Lotteries are ALWAYS ILLEGAL!
  
  
• Do not wire money to someone you don’t know in a foreign country! Scam artists use prepaid cell phones, post office boxes, and throw-away email addresses. The scam artists are on the run and difficult to catch! Law enforcement officials may have little recourse.
  
  
• A check is not good just because your financial institution makes funds available to you after you deposit a check. A counterfeit check can still bounce for up to two weeks!
  

• Is the CHECK from an item you sold on the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc.?
  
  
• Is the amount of the CHECK more than the item's selling price?
  
  
• Did you receive the CHECK via an overnight delivery service?
  
  
• Is the CHECK connected to communicating with someone by mail?
  
  
• Is the CHECK drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?
  
  
• Have you been informed that you were the winner of a LOTTERY, such as Canadian, Australian, El Gordo, or El Mundo, that you did not enter?
  
  
• Have you been instructed to either "WIRE," "SEND" or "SHIP" MONEY, as soon as possible, to a large U.S. city or another country, such as Canada, England or Nigeria?
  
  
• Have you been asked to PAY money to receive a deposit from another country such as Canada, England or Nigeria?
  
  
• Are you receiving PAY or a COMMISSION for facilitating money transfers through your account?
  
  
• Did you respond to an email requesting you to CONFIRM, UPDATE, or PROVIDE your account information?

Summer 2006

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Online fraud, and other identity theft schemes, are a growing problem these days. One of the best ways to protect yourself from becoming a victim is to become educated about what identity theft is, and what steps you can take to protect yourself.

Share Advantage Credit Union has teamed up with Liberty to help you learn about this fast-growing crime. Simply log on to www.myshareadvantage.com, and on our home page scroll down to "FREE Online Fraud Education Available Online!" There you'll find a link to Liberty's web site that provides an interactive, easy to read online fraud protection learning center. The web site also explains identity theft, check and credit card fraud, and other consumer scams, and provides tips and tricks that help protect against becoming a victim.