Fraud Alert --> Phishers Attack Credit Union in Southern Vermont
Recently the Brattleboro Reformer reported the details of a phishing attack on River Valley Credit Union's website.
A handful of this So. Vermont credit union's nearly 20,000 members reported receiving a suspicious looking email which contained a link to a fraudulent website containing the River Valley CU logo. Once there, the member was directed to log onto their account and enter their social security number, thereby giving the scammers the account ID and potentially exposing the member to theft of funds.
Fortunately, River Valley employees and managers dealt swiftly with the attack, contacting the FBI and arranging for an Internet security firm to monitor their website to ensure the protection of their members.
Bob Furman of River Valley CU reiterated what all credit union members should know, telling the newspaper: "We'd never ask for that kind of information over email, or even in the mail. It's a little frightening. This sort of thing usually happens to big, interstate banks. It's the first time we've seen it happen to one so small in this area."
The phishers apparently copied River Valley and NCUA logos and sent out an indeterminate number of email messages with a link to the fraudulent website. The site might look legitimate, Furman said, because the River Valley logo is there, but it is nothing more than a scam.
"It's just a group of people trying to get information to steal identities or maybe even money," he said.
PLEASE NOTE: If you ever question the reliability of an unsolicited email
appearing to be from the VSECU
please call us directly. The VSECU will never send you an email requesting your account number, social security number, or other personal information.
© 2008, Vermont State Employees Credit Union. All Rights Reserved.
