News and Information
StarUSA FCU – Named one of the Best Credit Unions in America
4,698 credit unions evaluated. Approximately 26,000 US residents Surveyed. 207 credit unions awarded. THANK YOU, Forbes, for awarding us with such a high honor for the second year in a row! Click the following link for the full list:
STAR USA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION MEMBERS
Recent surveys confirm that consumers want financial institutions to provide more information about cyber-security more than ever. The Digital Banking Safety Center provides resources designed to help credit unions educate their employees and members on how to recognize and avoid scams, protect personal information, and practice safe digital banking.
BEWARE OF PHISHING ATTEMPTS AND OTHER SCAMS
For the past several years, more and more attempts are being made to steal personal information from consumers. Many of these schemes originate outside the United States and are effective in convincing consumers that they are legitimate businesses that need your personal information. Every year, thousands of people lose millions of dollars to these scams. In 2022, nearly $8.8 billion was lost to fraud. To better prepare yourself for such attempts, become more familiar with the characteristics of these fraudulent activities. Just a few of these scams are identified below.
PHISHING is characterized by attempts to acquire sensitive information such as passwords, account numbers, Social Security numbers and credit card data by masquerading as a trustworthy person or a business entity through an email or other electronic communication. It will often include a warning that an account is about to be closed, a service discontinued, or an order will not be filled due to problems with an account or credit card. These will normally include a link to be followed that will ask for personal information that will allow the criminal to gain access to your accounts. Often, the links will look legitimate and appear to be the site of a business.
If you have any doubt about the legitimacy of such a request, call the local or national office of the service provider and ask if they have a need for such information. Be sure to get a telephone number or email address from a previous invoice or from a website that you are sure is legitimate. Do not use the email address or telephone number included on the suspicious email. Financial information, sensitive personal information or account information will not be requested by a business or credit union as they normally have that on file.
SWEEPSTAKES AND LOTTERIES will inform you that you have won a huge prize but they need you to send them your account information so they can retrieve the taxes and shipping costs in order to send you the millions that you have won. Do not provide this information. These are scams as lottery winnings are not offered through these methods.
ROMANCE SCAMS are growing in popularity as more people are seeking companionship through internet sources. These are individuals who provide false identities in order to gain trust. Once this relationship has been developed, there will be an emergency that requires the other party to send financial information or funds in order to pay for traveling expenses, funeral costs or a host of other contrived problems that may arise. These criminals prey on the lonely and take advantage of these situations. If you cannot legitimately confirm the identity of an individual, consider it to be a scam and do not send any money or information.
In all these circumstances, protect your funds, your accounts and your identity. NCUA, the FBI and local law enforcement can provide assistance if you feel you are being pressured to release personal information. Don’t fall victim to scams and fraudulent attempts!