Author: Compass Community Credit Union

If you haven’t already enrolled in e-Statements, consider the benefits: Have your statements at your fingertips on the first of the month through our free online and mobile banking.  Avoid clutter by storing old paper statements. Plus, you have access to your e-Statements anytime you need them. Security – As you know, theft is a common problem. Keep …

e-Statements

If you haven’t already enrolled in e-Statements, consider the benefits:

Have your statements at your fingertips on the first of the month through our free online and mobile banking. 

Avoid clutter by storing old paper statements. Plus, you have access to your e-Statements anytime you need them.

Security – As you know, theft is a common problem. Keep your account information secure by avoiding paper statements.

Reduce waste and save our natural resources.

In addition, we have an enrollment promotion through April 30, 2023. Click here to learn more.

America Saves Week

Since 2007, America Saves Week has been an annual celebration as well as a call to action for everyday Americans to commit to saving successfully.

Monday, February 27, 2023 | Save Automatically

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | Save for the Unexpected

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | Savings for Milestones

Thursday, March 2, 2023 | Paying Down Debt

Friday, March 3, 2023 | Save at any Age

Compass is pleased to provide financial tips to our members. Our goal is to encourage individuals to better understand their finances, set savings goals, and create a plan to achieve them.

To get started, click here.

Go mobile, stay safe

Today, doing anything and everything on your mobile phone is extremely easy – often too easy.  Here are some simple tips to help keep your money, and personal information, safe.

Treat your phone like a computer: It may be smaller but contains similar confidential information.   Set a logon password to protect your information should you lose your phone. In addition to setting a password, enable the fingerprint security and/or facial recognition settings on your phone to better protect your information.”

Be careful when you connect to open Wi-Fi; you may be exposing your information to hackers. Only connect to known, secure Wi-Fi when conducting business that exposes sensitive data.

Never save passwords in a text document: Never save sensitive data or passwords to a text document on your phone.

Think before you download: Only download apps from trusted sources.

Equip your phone with protection: Take advantage of malware and virus protection. Avoid leaving your phone unattended:  If you don’t, “hacking” can be as simple as someone else turning on your phone.

To learn more about the Compass app, click here.

Scams are on the rise. Protect yourself, don’t become a victim (part 2).

Last month, we provided some tips on how to identify recent scams. This is part 2 of our series on how to identify them and what to watch for.

E-mail Fraud/Phishing – What is Phishing?

Phishing is a general term for e-mails, text messages and websites fabricated and sent by criminals and designed to look like they come from well-known and trusted businesses, financial institutions and government agencies in an attempt to collect personal, financial and sensitive information.  It’s also known as brand spoofing.

Characteristics: 

•            The content of a phishing e-mail or text message is intended to trigger a quick reaction from you. It can be unsettling, might contain exciting information or demand an urgent response.  Phishing messages are normally not personalized.  

•            Typically, phishing messages will ask you to “update,” “validate,” or “confirm” your account information or face dire consequences.  They might even ask you to make a phone call.  

•            Often, the message or website includes official-looking logos and other identifying information taken directly from legitimate websites. Government, financial institutions and online payment services are common targets of brand spoofing.

Catch phrases:  

•            E-mail Money Transfer Alert:  Please verify this payment information below…

•            It has come to our attention that your online banking profile needs to be updated as part of our continuous efforts to protect your account and reduce instances of fraud… 

•            Dear Online Account Holder, Access To Your Account Is Currently Unavailable…, Important Service Announcement from…, You have 1 unread Security Message!

•            We regret to inform you that we had to lock your bank account access.  Call (telephone number) to restore your bank account.

In some cases, the offending site can modify your browser address bar to make it look legitimate, including the web address of the real site and a secure “https://” prefix.

Information sought: Social Security numbers, full name, date of birth, full address, mother’s maiden name, username and password of online services, driver’s license number, personal identification numbers (PIN), credit card information (numbers, expiry dates and the last three digits printed on the signature panel) and bank account numbers. 

Foreign Government Fraud 

Watch out for emails from senders posing as government or business officials offering to share large sums of money. If you have received an unsolicited letter containing any of the characteristics listed below, you should consider this a scam and delete the email. Most letters are variations of the following:

•            You receive an “urgent” business proposal “in strictest confidence” from a foreign civil servant or businessman.

•            The sender, often a member of the “contract review panel”, obtained your name and profile through the Chamber of Commerce or the International Trade Commission.

•            The sender recently intercepted or has been named beneficiary of the proceeds from real estate, oil products, over-invoiced contracts, cargo shipments, or other commodities, and needs a foreign partner to assist with laundering the money.

•            Since their government/business position prohibits them from opening foreign bank accounts, senders ask you to deposit the sum, usually somewhere between $25-50 million, into your personal account.

•            For your assistance, you will receive between 15-30% of the total, which sits in the “Central Bank of ______” awaiting transfer.

•            To complete the transaction, they ask you to provide your bank name and address, your telephone and fax numbers, the name of your beneficiary, and, of course, your bank account number.

•            The sender promises to forward your share within 10-14 working days!

Money Mule – What is it?

The Money Mule (victim) is recruited – often unknowingly – by scammers to move money made from illegal activity. Money is moved from one bank account to another. By using a money mule, it makes it harder for authorities to track down.

How do people become Money Mules?

Fraudsters approach their money mule victims in a variety of ways including social media, email, mail or phone. Many scams are typically disguised as online job opportunities that promise a fast and easy way to earn money. All they need is your account information to let money be transferred into your account. Then you move the money out of your account for a commission.

These scams look attractive, especially when a little extra income wouldn’t hurt, which is why so many people fall for them. But they are actually helping criminals commit crimes.

Tips:

1.           Be cautious of unsolicited emails and social posts.

2.           Verify company information online or give them a call.

3.           Thoroughly check offers from overseas companies.

4.           Never give out your bank account information.

Remember, do not give out your personal or account information unless you are absolutely sure you know who you are dealing with. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 707-443-8662.

Scams are on the rise. Protect yourself, don’t become a victim (part 1).

We have recently seen an increase in scams and would like to provide you with some tips on how to identify them and what to watch for.

Prize Pitch (Lottery) Scams 

The classic prize pitch scam involves victims receiving notification by mail, phone, or e-mail indicating they have won a prize (monetary or other valued items). 

However, in order to collect the prize the victim is required to pay various fees or taxes in advance. Victims either never hear from the organization again or receive further requests for money.

Tips: 

  • Challenge a caller who says you’ve won a prize to tell you where and when you entered. If you didn’t enter, you can’t win.
  • Keep track of contests, draws and lotteries you enter.
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Watch out for Charity Scams 

Fraud artists hope to profit from people’s generosity. Consider the following precautions to make sure your donations benefit the people and organizations you want to assist:

•            Be wary of appeals that tug at your heart, especially pleas involving current events.

•            Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address and telephone number. A legitimate charity or fund-raiser will give you information about the charity’s mission, how your donation will be used and proof that your contribution is tax deductible.

•            Ask the solicitor for the registered charitable tax number of the charity. Question any discrepancies. 

•            Check out the charity’s financial information. For many organizations, this information can be found online or call them.    

•            Watch out for similar-sounding names. Some phony charities use names that closely resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations. If you notice a small difference from the name of the charity you intend to deal with, call the organization to check it out. 

•            Be skeptical if someone thanks you for a pledge you don’t remember making. If you have any doubts about whether you’ve made a pledge or previously contributed, check your records. Be on the alert for invoices claiming you’ve made a pledge. Some unscrupulous solicitors use this approach to get your money. 

•            Refuse high-pressure appeals. Legitimate fund-raisers won’t push you to give on the spot. 

•            Be wary of charities offering to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect your donation immediately. 

•            Be wary of guaranteed sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution. According to law, you never have to donate anything to be eligible to win. 

•            Avoid cash gifts. Cash can be lost or stolen. For security and tax record purposes, it’s best to pay by check. 

Advance Fee Fraud 

Classified advertisements for loan opportunities do not guarantee the legitimacy of a company. Some companies claim they can guarantee you a loan even if you have a bad credit history or no credit rating at all. They usually request an up-front fee of several hundred dollars. If you send your money to these companies, it is unlikely you will get your promised loan and your advance payment will be at risk.

Advance fee loans operating for a criminal purpose generate millions of dollars annually in the U.S. Persons with poor credit ratings are usually the key targets and once the ‘loan processors’ receive your money, they usually disappear.

If you have doubts about the organization, contact the Better Business Bureau for further information.

Most important, do not give out your personal or account information unless you are absolutely sure you know who you are dealing with. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 707-443-8662.

Why You Should Monitor Your Automatic Payments

Between working, spending time with your friends and family, and pursuing your hobbies, there never seems to be enough time in the day. As a result, we are all looking for ways to cut the amount of time spent on mundane chores. Setting up automatic payments for recurring bills is a modern convenience that saves a significant amount of time. As long as you have the funds in your account, you’ll simply be able to set it and forget it, right? Yes—you could, but here are a few reasons why you should monitor your automatic payments:

Overdraft Fees

When making manual bill payments, you can always check to ensure you have sufficient funds in your account before you pay. When you enroll in auto-pay, there’s a greater risk of an overdraft to your account. While truly being able to set it and forget it would be great, it’s a good idea to continue checking in on your accounts before your automatic payments clear each month. This is especially crucial if you’ve automated any variable expenses, such as a utility bill. Try to get in the habit of checking your account balance before your auto-pay clears. While it’s not exactly a “set it and forget it” approach, it’s still more convenient that manually paying your bills each month.

Unnoticed Errors

There are a number of benefits to enrolling in auto-pay. It’s convenient and you’re less likely to miss a payment. A major downside, however, is actually something out of your control. Payees do occasionally make mistakes. While rare, these mistakes could be costly. If you aren’t monitoring your automatic payments, a significant mistake could go unnoticed.

Cancelled Services

If you’ve enrolled in auto pay and had only positive experiences, you might simply let your automatic ACH or Bill Pay services take care of everything. However, your auto-pay service doesn’t know when you’ve stopped going to the gym or canceled a service. If you’re letting your auto-pay take care of everything, you may find yourself wasting money on subscriptions you’re not using. Instead, simply check in on your account statements each month to ensure that you aren’t throwing your hard-earned money away.

If you decide to sign up for auto pay, set up eAlerts using the Compass app. You will receive a notification when your balance is low or when a transaction has occurred. It’s a great way to stay on top of your payments without having to manually make them yourself. Auto pay is incredibly convenient and is a payment process that is certainly worth looking into, but it’s important to have good financial habits rooted in an awareness of what you’re paying and when.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15th!

Every year, scammers inundate senior Americans with all kinds of fraudulent schemes. Here are just a few:

  • Phony investment schemes
  • Bogus charity fundraisers
  • Medicare fraud
  • Predatory reverse mortgages
  • Sweepstake scams
  • Fictitious surveys

Be wary of emails requesting personal information. Scammers send bogus emails that look like they come from a company you recognize. They include the company’s branding and logo so you think it’s legit. These scams are designed to trick you into providing your username and password. Do not click on any links in the email. Contact the company directly through their website by typing the web address yourself. You can also call the phone number that you have on file or the number listed on their website.

Crooks like to create fake websites that look genuine. They can be very impressive to deceive you in thinking it’s real. Then, they try and trick you into providing your debit/credit card number or your username and password. The best thing to do is go directly to the website by typing the web address yourself rather than from the link. Look at the website address and make sure it matches the site you’re trying to access. Tip: Scammers usually misspell or add an extra letter to the website address. An example is Amazon becoming “Amazone” or “Amazne.”

Fraudsters con people out of over 60 billion dollars every year. It can be difficult for some to admit they may have been victimized. According to AARP, there are several telltale signs to watch for:

  1. Money and valuables are disappearing for no good reason.
  2. Bills aren’t paid, and a parent seems confused about finances.
  3. They are being secretive about money and asking for more. There may be strange credit card charges.
  4. A family member won’t answer questions about your parent’s money.
  5. Someone new befriends your parent and manages to take joint title to accounts and property.

To help keep our seniors safe, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created some free materials at www.consumerfinance.gov.

Spring Financial Cleaning

Are your finances in shape? If not, here’s what you can do to get everything in order.

Review your credit report

Have you looked at your credit report lately? This is one of the most important steps to take each year to keep your finances in order. You can obtain a free copy once a year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies at annualcreditreport.com. You can get all three at once and compare them to make sure everything is correct, or you can order one from each agency about every four months. You’ll want to ensure that your payment history and amount owed are listed correctly and make sure there are no inaccuracies or accounts you are not aware of.

File documents

Made any big purchases? Home improvements? Business expenses? Insurance policy changes? Gather the documents for these important financial events and file them where you can easily find them when needed. These receipts, contracts, and policy documents can be essential for filing taxes or when selling your home or vehicle.

Also, go through your files and discard paperwork you no longer need. If possible, shred those documents, don’t just toss them in the trash. Get rid of warranty documents for appliances and vehicles you no longer own, insurance policies you no longer carry, and other outdated paper. Check with your tax adviser to see which receipts and tax documents you need to keep and for how long.

TIP: You can scan and attach a receipt to the transaction using the Compass mobile app. To learn more, click here.

Check your budget

This is a good time to make sure you’re achieving your financial goals, such as hitting a savings benchmark, retirement strategy or paying down debt. Look at how you are spending your money. Are you overspending in a category, such as food or clothing? Have your main expenses changed?

Take a little time to clean up your finances so you can make changes as needed — and stay on track to reaching your financial goals.

April is Youth Month

April is National Youth Month, designed to encourage kids to develop healthy saving habits by making saving fun and exciting. This year’s theme is:

Save Small, Dream Big.”

As a parent, you instill good values and financial guidance in your children. Compass is committed to help teach and encourage kids to develop good financial habits. We are providing an incentive to help our younger members see the importance of putting money aside. Click here to learn more.

It’s important to stay on top of global cyber-attacks.

Fraudsters use circumstances like this to prey on innocent people. To protect yourself from scams, use caution and watch for these types of threats.

1. Financial Imposter Scam
Fraudsters create SMS/Text Messages that look like they came from your financial institution, prompting you to take action immediately. Once you respond, they follow up with a call pretending they are from the security department. They use some of your information found on social media or the internet to coax you into providing your username, password and 2FA code. This information allows them to access your online banking. Compass will never ask for your password or 2FA code and you should never give this information out.

2. Phishing Emails
Be wary of emails requesting personal information. Scammers send bogus emails that look like they come from a company you recognize. They include the company’s branding and logo so you think it’s legit. These scams are designed to trick you into providing your username and password. Do not click on any links in the email. Contact the company directly through their website by typing the web address yourself. You can also call the phone number that you have on file or the number listed on their website. 

3. Spoofed (Fake) Websites
Crooks like to create fake websites that look genuine. They can be very impressive to deceive you in thinking it’s real. Then, they try and trick you into providing your debit/credit card number or your username and password. The best thing to do is go directly to the website by typing the web address yourself rather than from the link. Look at the website address and make sure it matches the site you’re trying to access. Tip: Scammers usually misspell or add an extra letter to the website address. An example is Amazon becoming “Amazone” or “Amazne.”

4. Reusing Usernames and Passwords
Protect yourself by using different usernames and passwords for every account. Passphrases consisting of simpler words or constructs are better than short passwords with special characters. A password is a short character set of mixed digits. A passphrase is a long string of text that makes up a phrase or sentence. Example: mydogRocky#1

For additional information and to learn more about other security tips, visit Compassccu.org/securitytips. If you think you have been a victim of fraud, please contact us at 707-443-8662.

In short, a credit union is a cooperative financial institution where people work together to make everyone’s lives better. Everyone who has an account here is a member. And every member is an owner.

Rather than making profits to send to far-off shareholders, Compass CCU reinvests in our credit union. Which means we reinvest in YOU. That’s why we say that, at Compass Community Credit Union, we guide you to better banking.