CU TIP: Don’t Get “Phished In” By Phony Relief Funds

One of the easiest ways to make a donation these days, is to make a contribution through an organization’s web site. While this is quick and convenient, there’s a big cyber-scam you should watch out for. It’s called “phishing”, a scam in which you are lured to what looks to be a legitimate website for a financial institution or relief organization. The web site, however, is fake and set up only to steal your information and use it for identity theft. ALWAYS be wary if you receive an UNSOLICITED e-mail request asking for personal information such as passwords, social insurance numbers, and bank account numbers. Delete them. Do not respond to them. Financial institutions and credit card companies NEVER request this type of information by email.

You can make donations safely over the internet. Just make sure you’re not “phished in” first by a fake!