Don’t Be A Victim of Smishing!
Text Message Scam Warning
The holiday season is a popular time for scams. Recently members of PGCFCU have been contacted by scam artists in “smishing” attacks through text messages claiming to be from Bank Fund FCU. In a smishing attack, members will receive a text message directing them to call a number regarding their federal credit union debit card. Once members respond, they are told there may be a possible fraud on the account and are asked to provide their card number and other personal information.

Remember, PGCFCU will never contact you through a text message requesting information about your accounts. We already have it!

Please contact PGCFCU immediately if you have received one of these texts.

Save Your Debit Card Receipts!
It is very important that you hold on to your debit card receipts until your purchases clear your account!  PGCFCU has noticed a huge increase in wrong amounts being submitted by merchants.  For example, if you go out to dinner and your meal is actually $34.00, however, the restaurant (merchant) accidentally hits $340.00 your account will be debited for the amount they entered.  Keeping your receipt will allow us to remedy the situation much quicker.  With a receipt we can credit you back the over charged amount and dispute the difference with the merchant. Your  receipt in hand will also protect you against any fraudulent activity that may occur as well.

PGCFCU allows you 60 days to dispute a wrongful charge, however, without a receipt it is harder for us to help you dispute the charges.  To avoid being overcharged by merchants, we ask that you keep a copy of your receipts until the transaction has cleared your account for the correct amount.  You can check your transactions through home banking, e-statements or audio response.  For more information, please feel free to contact our call center at 301-627- 2666.

FRAUD ALERT
Fake Check Scams
What You Should Know • What You Should Do.
Beware of these email and fax scams that can leave you owing money! Find out more.

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 SSA’s site.

“I am outraged that someone would target an unsuspecting public in this manner,” said Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart.

Inspector General Patrick O’Carroll recommends caution when dealing with potentially fraudulent e-mails. “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,” he said.

SSA invites recipients to report these e-mails or other suspicious activity by calling 800-269-0271. More information is available on the administration’s Web site.