A local credit union is the target of a phishing scam. Text messages claiming to be from Empower Federal Credit Union have been sent to cell phones throughout the area. The messages try and get members to call a number by telling them that their ATM accounts have been deactivated.
Empower FCU says several of their members have been fooled by the scam and have had money stolen from their accounts. The withdrawals came from Eastern Europe and the credit union says it is working with the FBI's computer crimes unit to track down those responsible for the scam.
In the meantime Chris McQueeney of Empower FCU says anyone receiving a text, e-mail or phone call asking for information should be suspicious and not give out any information before they confirm who they are talking to. "You always want to make sure that when somebody calls or contacts you and claims to be from your financial institution that they have the information they should. If they are calling from your financial institution they should know your card information they shouldn't have to have you provide it for them," he says.
For more information on what you can do to protect yourself from these type of phishing scams go to the Security Exchange Commissions website at: http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/phishing.htm
