According to phishing.org, phishing refers to the process where a targeted individual is contacted by email or telephone by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure the individual into providing sensitive information such as banking information, credit card details, and passwords. The personal information is then used to access the individual’s account and can result in identity theft and financial loss.
"Phishing" E-Mail Targets Credit Union Members
In the past, some of our members have received fraudulent e-mails claiming to be from JHFCU. The e-mails claim that you have been locked out of your account and want you to verify your identity, but they are really scams trying to steal your identity. There are some indicators you can look out for to tell whether an e-mail is from a legitimate source, like JHFCU or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), or people scamming for your personal information.
If you receive an e-mail from a seemingly legitimate organization, which may include an authentic-looking sender address and/or official organization logos, look at it closely for the following tell-tale signs of phishing:
- The e-mail asks for your personal account information and threatens negative action if you don’t provide it.
- The e-mail is generically addressed or uses phrases that don’t make sense.
- The e-mail includes a link that it says you must click on.
If you suspect the e-mail is fraudulent, contact the purported to verify its authenticity. DO NOT respond to the e-mail or click on any of its links. The Credit Union keeps a running list of phishing e-mails that appeared to be from us, but did not actually come from JHFCU.
Example Phishing Email
Get information about the availability of the Federal Trade Commission’s online guidance regarding steps to protect against identity theft. You can also visit the FDIC to learn more about Identity Theft, Frauds, and Scams Basics, where you can report potential fraud and find education tools to help protect yourself.