NCUA warns of fraudulent e-mail activity

May 26, 2010 – NCUA yesterday said e-mails from simulated NCUA e-mail boxes to members of credit unions may be an attempt to obtain members’ confidential data.

The e-mails solicit credit union members’ participation in an online survey or member survey and promise compensation of $40 for responding. “The emails are fraudulent,” NCUA said. “NCUA does not solicit such information from credit union members. This is a phishing activity with no NCUA activity or approval.”

Anthony Demangone, NAFCU’s director of regulatory compliance, reminds credit unions of agency rules on the protection of member data.

“NCUA’s security regulation requires credit unions to take reasonable precautions to protect their members’ sensitive information,” he said. “With that in mind, credit unions might consider alerting members to this scam and others in newsletters, branch signage, blogs or Twitter feeds.”

NCUA said anyone receiving these phishing e-mails should not respond to them. Questions can be sent to NCUA at pacamail@ncua.gov.