Fake CUA Customer Satisfaction emails

We're aware that there are several hoax emails in circulation which seek to get you to disclose your confidential banking information.

It is important to note that CUA will NEVER ask you to update, confirm or disclose your personal banking or credit card details via email or by telephone. Any contact of this nature is a hoax.

The latest scam email (see below) asks you to submit a online banking satisfaction survey for CUA.  Please note this is a scam, not a genuine email.

If you receive an email which you believe is a hoax, please forward it to fraud.prevention@cua.com.au. If you have responded to a hoax email please immediately report the matter to CUA Direct on 133 cua (133 282).

Saturday 09 Febraury 2013

----- Message from Credit Union Australia (email@address.removed) on Sat, 9 Feb 2013 00:18:42 +0000 -----
Subject: Earn 100$ Right Now!
Satisfaction Survey
Please click to earn 100$ (Link removed for security reasons)
______________________

Monday 06 December 2012
From: Credit Union Australia
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 7:31 PM
To: email@address.removed
Subject: CUA Web Banker Alert: email@address.removed

Dear email address removed,

This e-mail has been sent to you by Credit Union Australia to inform you that we were unable to verify your account details.
This might be due to either of the following reasons:  

  1. Submitting incorrect information during register process.
  2. A recent change in your personal information. (eg:  address, phone)

Due to this, to ensure that your Web Banker service is not interrupted, we request you to confirm and update your information today by following the link below
[Link Removed For Security Reasons]

  If you have already confirmed your information then please disregard this message.
Regards,

Credit Union Australia member services
Thanks for your cooperation.    

© Credit Union Australia Limited. ABN: 44 087 650 959 AFSL: 238317 BSB: 804050

Scams

The website from ASIC, the financial regulator called MONEYSMART has recently issued warnings regarding current scams. Some of the scams the explain involve investments, superannuation, managed funds, financial advice or insurance.

To access this information, type https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/scams into your browser, or search for MoneySmart, and click on Scams.

Fake Web Banker Account emails & SMS messages

CUA is aware that there are hoax emails and SMS's in circulation that seek to get you to disclose your confidential banking information.

It is important to note that CUA will NEVER ask you to update, confirm or disclose your personal banking or credit card details via email, SMS or telephone. Any contact of this nature is a hoax.

If you receive an email which you believe is a hoax, please forward it to fraud.prevention@cua.com.au,irrespective of whether you bank with CUA or not.

If you have responded to a hoax email, immediately report the matter to CUA Direct on 133 282.

Examples of recent hoax emails are shown below. SMS's may contain similar wording:

Trojan Virus Alert

CUA has received a substantial increase of reports of members that are being asked for card details while they are logging into Web Banker. CUA will never request you to further identify yourself using your card details when using Web Banker.

If you receive a message asking for card details while you are accessing Web Banker, it is probable that your computer has become infected with a virus that waits for you to login to Web Banker and then displays the following or similar message. You should consider it to be a scam and not enter your card details.

You should contact CUA Direct on 133 282 and have your WAC reset or use another computer to change it yourself. It is imperative that you have your computer professionally checked for virus and malware attacks before using any internet banking services, either at CUA or other financial institutions.

Please refer to the following example:

CUA “Pink My Profile” Facebook App – Hoax Warning

CUA has become aware of false reports in circulation which are warning Facebook users that the CUA “Pink My Profile” Facebook application contains a virus in the form of a "keylogger malware". The warning claims that the virus would be installed on the Facebook user’s computer when the application is used.

These reports are completely fabricated and false. No virus or malicious software is installed on the Facebook user’s computer by the CUA “Pink My Profile” Facebook application. The CUA “Pink My Profile” Facebook application was developed to enable Facebook users to show their support for the National Breast Cancer.

Bank Fee Refund Scams

CUA has become aware that there has been a substantial increase of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be from CUA, Fair Trading or the Ombudsman requesting account or card details so that excess fees can be refunded. Or they will ask you to forward “expenses” to another account by means of a money transfer.

Please be advised that CUA would not contact you via phone or email to ask you to pay tax or upfront amounts in order to claim a refund. No other financial institution would do this either.

CUA would already have your details such as card numbers and account numbers.
This scam has been around for some time, but is now increasing in volume
If you receive a call of this nature, the best course of action is for you to ignore it and simply hang up.

If you do find that you have been tricked by such a call, you should immediately call CUA Direct
on 133 282 and report the card as stolen.

You can report scams to the ACCC, as well as finding out more information about other scams, via the ‘report a scam’ page on the SCAMwatch website or by calling 1300 795 995.

All expenses paid holiday scam

For more information on these types, as well as other types, of scams please visit the Australian Government’s SCAMWatch website.

If you have any other queries, please contact us on 133 282.

How to spot a scam or hoax email

One of the most important things to remember is that if an offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Whilst the list below of scams and hoaxes is not exhaustive, some of the more common ones are:

• Nigerian Scam: Fraudsters have been sending out letters and emails inviting individuals to participate in a scheme that often involves you accepting funds into your account for an inheritance for someone you have no prior knowledge.  This is often from either to be from a government official or lawyer who needs help in distributing millions of dollars out of the country in return for a cut of the money. Recipients of the letters are required to divulge bank account details and forward tens of thousands of dollars in "advance fees".  The inherence is a scam and is non-existent. 
• Lottery Scam: Victims of this scam receive a letter advising them they have won a large prize from an overseas lottery, even though they have never bought a ticket. In order to collect the prize, they must send money before a certain date to a bank account in Spain to cover the cost of traces, bank fees, delivery and insurance costs.  The lottery money never existed. 
• Email Employment Scam: Victims of this scam are asked to provide their bank account details to prospective employers with the view to facilitating transfer of funds to overseas parties. The victims are told that, in return, they will be compensated by a commission payment. However, the funds transferred have been obtained fraudulently.   It is an offence in law to launder money by accepting stolen funds into your account, and then transferring them on to a third party.
• “Phishing”: (pronounced fishing ) emails are used by fraudsters to trick people into revealing personal information such as bank account details. They then use this information for illegal purposes, such as transferring funds or purchasing goods. Phishing emails will look as though they come from a bank or other financial institution, and may include links to a convincing replica home page. Never click on a link in an email that looks suspicious.  Examples of these emails can be seen in the examples above.
  

Stay Smart Online

There are many more important safeguards that you can take to protect you and your family against fraud.

The Australian Government has an excellent website that provides detailed information on the latest fraud prevention methods. Go to Stay Smart Online or refer to our fight against fraud section for more information.

If you have any other queries, please contact us on 133 282.