Stay Safe^top

To be a smart consumer you have to stay informed. ESL "Stay Safe - Fraud and Security News" is the place to go to learn more about staying smart in both online and offline financial activities and more.

Please check back often for new information.

Have you been "phished?"

If you have received an email that you believe is an attempt to steal personal information (commonly referred to as "phishing") you can now conveniently report these fraud attempts at www.esl.org. Making a report if you have actually submitted ESL account information is essential so that we can investigate your situation and secure your ESL accounts.

File your "Phishing" report if you think you have responded to a fraud attempt by providing personal ESL information.

Click here if you have received a phishing email that appears to be from ESL or the NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) but you have NOT submitted any account information.

Fraud and Security News^top

Social Security Administration Reports Phishing Scam

The Social Security Administration recently issued a warning about a recent phishing scam in which e-mail recipients are asked to update their personal information in order to receive a cost-of-living increase for Social Security payments in 2007.

The e-mails, which claim to be from the agency, announce a 3.3 percent benefit increase in cost of living for Social Security recipients. Recipients are told their Social Security benefits will be suspended for failure to update personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account and credit card information. They are then directed to a web site designed to look like the Social Security Administration's site.

To avoid potential fraud and identify theft, remember that you should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident of the source to whom you are providing the information.

The Social Security Administration advises that if you have received this e-mail, just delete the message without replying. You can report these e-mails or other suspicious activity by calling 800.269.0271. More information is available on the Social Security Administration web site.

(11/21/2006)

Credit Union Phishing Scam

A number of people have received a phishing attempt email that is designed to look like it is coming from creditunion.com. If you receive such an email do not click the link it contains, just delete the message.

This particular scam email contains the following text:

Credit Union is constantly working to ensure security by regularly screening the accounts in our system. We recently reviewed your account, and we need more information to help us provide you with secure service. Until we can collect this information, your access to sensitive account features will be limited. We would like to restore your access as soon as possible, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

ESL will NEVER ask you to confirm your personal information using a link in an email. When you receive a legitimate email from ESL, we will always advise you to access our web site and Internet Banking by using your own bookmarks or favorites, or by typing our URL before logging into Internet Banking. For more information, view "When in doubt, type it out."

If you believe you have responded to this phishing attack and have provided ESL account information to this fraudulent email, please contact us immediately by calling 585.336.1000 or 800.848.2265 or by chatting with an online ESL Member Service Representative.

(09/28/2006)

Email Scams Often Look Real

Phishing scams will do practically anything to get your personal information. Recently there have been reports that people have received an email (supposedly from their bank or credit union) that tells them they've unsuccessfully logged onto an online banking service and asks them to try again, using a link in the email. The link sends the reader to a fraudulent site where identity theft could occur.

Because it's important to us that your information stays secure, ESL will NEVER ask you to confirm your personal information using a link in an email. When you receive a legitimate email from ESL, we will always advise you to access our web site and Internet Banking by using your own bookmarks or favorites, or by typing our URL before logging into Internet Banking. For more information, view "When in doubt, type it out."

(1/27/2006)

Received Email from the FBI?

Don't Be Fooled by Internet Scam

(11/23/2005)

Computer Security Basics

Watch these short videos to learn more about the top security issues that affect home users like you.

(11/18/2005)

New Links to Help You Stay Safe

Looks Too Good To Be True - Consumer-focused fraud prevention information and tips from the FBI.

(11/1/2005)

New Phishing scam targets NCUA

Recently, members of various credit unions have reported receiving email solicitations for account login information that claim to be from the The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

Visit the NCUA"s Phishing News page for more information, including what you can do if you receive one of these emails.

(9/26/2005)

Free Credit Report

Now New York State residents can request a free credit report.

Be leery of offers for free credit reports from pop-up windows or spam emails. These offers may say free, but then sock you with hidden service costs. When you want a copy of your credit report for free from a legitimate source, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call 877.322.8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service,
P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

This is the only source approved by the Federal Trade Commission.

(9/8/2005)

FBI Fraud Alert

The FBI has provided a list of red flags that might indicate that someone is trying to scam you.

Are you about to be victimized?

(8/18/05)

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Putting an End to Account-Hijacking Identity Theft (Study Supplement)

"Identity theft in general and account hijacking in particular continue to be significant problems for the financial services industry and consumers. Recent studies indicate that identity theft is evolving in more complicated ways that make it more difficult for consumers to protect themselves..."

(7/20/05)

E-Commerce & The Internet

The Federal Trade Commission is an excellent source for Internet consumer protection news.

(3/28/05)

Be aware when advertising online

When you advertise items for sale on the Internet you greatly increase your ability to sell an item. But you should also be aware that you are basically giving your email address out to the world. This invites con-artists to send emails to you in an attempt to scam you into sharing your personal information, or worse yet, sending them money or items for sale. Be aware that a current fraud technique involves a buyer overpaying for an item then asking the seller to wire the difference back for a variety of valid sounding reasons.

Make sure you know who you are dealing with when you reply to emails. Don't give out personal information that you don't want the world to know. Be smart and protect your identity.

(3/24/05)

Fraud Alert - When in Doubt... Type it Out!

ESL will never ask you to validate your member number or password by linking from an email.

(2/17/05)

FDIC Warning

The FDIC warns of phishing scams where emails impersonate financial institutions or government agencies in order to obtain sensitive personal information.

(2/10/05)

PC Best Practices

The first step to protecting yourself online is to use some PC Best Practices to keep your computer safe.

(12/1/04)

Phishing

Internet Pirates are trying to steal your personal financial information, using a scheme called Phishing (pronounced "fishing"). The National Association of Federal Credit Unions also provides a brochure that explains what Phishing is and how to avoid it.

(12/1/04)

Identity Theft National Resource

Federal Trade Commission"s Identity Theft National Resource - Visit this sight to learn how to protect yourself from Identity Theft. Or, if it"s already happenedto you, learn what steps you should take to begin to resolve the situation.

(12/1/04)

Check 21

Understanding what Check 21 Means to You.

(12/1/04)