Protecting Your Privacy

We know you value the protection of your privacy and so do we. Protecting your personal information is a top priority. That's why we provide the tools you need to protect yourself against fraud such as phishing scams and identity theft. Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to gain access to your personal information. The best way to protect yourself is to educate yourself and be aware of common scams.

Phishing
Vishing
Identity Theft
Credit & Debit Card Telephone Scams
Foreign Lottery Scams
PassMark Security Information
- Quick Reference Guide
- FAQs
Additional Resources

Phishing
Phishing is a type of deception designed to steal your valuable personal data. Con artists send fraudulent email messages that appear to come from Web sites you trust, like Pacific Service CU, and request that you provide personal information. They often include official-looking logos and other identifying information taken directly from legitimate Web sites. To make these phishing email messages look even more legitimate, the scam artists may place a link in them that appears to go to the legitimate Web site, but it actually takes you to a phony scam site or possibly a pop-up window that looks exactly like the official site. These copycat sites are also called "spoofed" Web sites.

Vishing
Vishing is also a type of deception tactic used to gain sensitive personal information. Used in conjunction with phishing, con artists send fraudulent email messages that appear to come from a trusted Web site and request that you call a telelphone number instead of clicking on a link. This tactic can be especially effective because consumers who encounter a live person are much more likely to let their guard down. The telephone number provided in the email usually has a U.S. area code, adding to its air of legitimacy. Consumers who think the email is legitimate call the number and furnish sensitive information to a person they believe is a trusted Credit Union employee.

Consumers who receive this or any other unexpected email or phone call seeking personal information should not respond. Never click on a link or call a telelphone number that appears in an email.

Pacific Service CU will never contact you via phone or email asking you to provide passwords, login names, Social Security numbers, or other personal information. If you receive an email from Pacific Service CU asking you to update your credit card information or to “Verify your account information”, do not respond. Please forward the email to service@pacificservice.org.

Identity Theft
Identity theft is a crime that involves someone else using your name, Social Security number and/or other personal information. The thief can use your existing credit cards to make purchases, open new credit accounts in your name, make cash advances, or drain your financial accounts.

Find out more about Identity Theft and Current Scams in our

An important way to combat fraudulent activity on your account is to get a free credit report. New laws allow one free credit report per consumer per year. Credit reports will show any new account activity recorded in your name; if an identity thief has opened accounts in your name, they will show up on this report.

If you think your information has been compromised, contact a member service representative immediately at (888) 858-6878, ext. 6231.

Credit & Debit Card Telephone Scams
VISA customers have reported receiving calls at home fraudulently claiming to be from VISA or “your financial institution.” Callers do not have the name of the financial institution nor do they have your card information. They will begin by asking you if you have made a specific recent purchase and will try to obtain your personal information claiming to block and re-issue your card.

Never provide your personal information over the phone or by email. Pacific Service CU or VISA will never call to request confidential information.

Calls have typically been in the late evening and early morning hours, although may happen any time of day. The caller may be aggressive and threaten to block your card/account.

We have VISA fraud detection in place, however, you will never be asked to verify anything except the last four digits of your social security number. Find out more about our fraud detection system.

If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud, immediately call a member service representative at (888) 858-6878, ext. 6353. We can cancel compromised cards, change your account number or add a password to your account for future transactions.

Foreign Lottery Scams
Members continue to get fooled by foreign lottery scams that promise big payouts. Unsuspecting members are being notified by email, mail and fax that they have won a substantial prize in a foreign lottery or sweepstakes. The notification letters look very legitimate and often include a counterfeit check. Scammers send the check representing part of the recipient's winnings and instruct the member to wire part of the money back to cover taxes, bonding and other "winner" related fees. Soon after the money is wired, the check is returned to the credit union as a counterfeit. Members are responsible for reimbursing the credit union for all returned checks.

If you receive a "prize notification" from a foreign lottery, do not respond. Do not pay any money in advance to collect a prize or reveal any confidential information including account number, social security number or credit card number. Please forward the letter and check to the credit union so we can verify the validity of the check.

The Federal Trade Commission maintains that if you play a foreign lottery - through the mail or over the telephone, you are violating federal law. Ignore all mail, phone and email solicitations for foreign lottery promotions.

PassMark Security Information
Pacific Service CU takes the security of your account and personal information very seriously. As another level of protection for your online banking transactions and for the security of your account information, we are pleased to offer this security feature.

The security feature will require a one-time enrollment process which will only take a few minutes.

Enrollment Overview
During the security enrollment, you will be asked to:

Select a secret image (called your PassMark) – you can select from a library of images or upload one of your own
Create a caption – enter a word or phrase for your PassMark
Answer three challenge questions – your challenge questions may be used for additional verification, especially when logging in from an unrecognized computer

After Enrollment
For all subsequent log ins:

You will enter your Login ID (Acct #) on the first screen
Your PassMark and caption will appear on the following screen assuring you that you are on our legitimate site. You can then enter your PIN/Password. If your PassMark and caption do not appear, DO NOT enter your PIN/Password and call a member service representative at (888) 858-6878, ext. 6231.

By completing the enrollment process, you are partnering with Pacific Service CU to help protect against internet scams and identity theft.

PassMark Quick Reference Guide
PassMark FAQs

Additional Resources:

www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
www.idtheftcenter.org
www.consumer.gov/idtheft/