Privacy Policies / Security Notices | Charter Oak Federal Credit Union

Fraud Prevention Tip

Debit Card/Credit Card – Prevent an Account Takeover

We will NEVER ask you for your PIN or the 3-digit security code on the back of your card. Don’t give them out to anyone.
A phone call from our automated dialer will only include a request for your zip code, and no other personal information unless you confirm a transaction is fraudulent. If at any point you are uncertain about questions being asked or the call itself, hang up and call us directly.
Regularly check your account online to see if there are any suspicious transactions that have occurred, especially if you are unsure about a call or text message you’ve received. If anything looks amiss, call us directly for assistance.
A text alert from us will always be from a 5-digit number and NOT A 10-digit number resembling a phone number. A text alert warning of suspicious activity on your card will NEVER include a link to be clicked. NEVER click on a link in a text messages that is supposedly from us. A valid notification will provide information about the suspect transaction and ask you to reply to the text message with answers such as ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘help’, or ‘stop’. It will never include a link.

Beware of Phone Scams!

We have received notice that scammers are calling our members and impersonating Charter Oak’s Fraud Prevention Department. They are asking for personal confidential information including your member or account number, debit card number and PIN in order to make travel note requests and debit card increases. DO NOT give out any personal information over the phone, especially when you are not expecting the call. If you think you’ve been a victim of a scam, please contact Charter Oak immediately at 860.446.8085.

Beware of Real Estate Wire Fraud Scams!

Looking to buy or refinance a home? Make sure you are on the lookout for scammers taking advantage of homeowners during the closing process. Real estate wire fraud or mortgage wire fraud occurs when a hacker convinces you to wire your closing costs to a fraudulent account.

Learn more now

Member Alert

We’ve been notified that some members are receiving postcards requesting their mortgage information. Please note that Charter Oak will never ask for sensitive information, including your mortgage information, via a phone call, postcard, email, or text.

IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE:

Charter Oak wants you to stay safe and informed. During these vulnerable times, please be aware of Fraud and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scams. As a reminder, Charter Oak will never call you, or send an email or text to you requesting that you respond and provide your personal information. Please visit these sites for further resources on how to protect yourselves from financial scams.

Here are some common-sense tips to protect you from online scammers and fraudsters:

Remember the saying: if something sounds too good to be true, it likely isn’t true or real.
Always remember to “think before you click.”
Never click on a link that you weren’t expecting, even when it may look like it’s from a company or a service that you think you recognize.
Watch out for words like “Beware!” or “Warning!” designed to make you panic.
Always be wary of emails with spelling or grammatical errors, especially those claiming to be from a reliable source.
If you’re uncertain of an email supposedly from someone in your company, give the person a quick call.

For examples of scams you should be on the lookout for, please click the link below:

COVID-19 Scam Alert

ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION!

At Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, we are committed to keeping your financial information secure and protected. It’s important that you help us safeguard your information.

Please be aware that Charter Oak will never call you, or send an email or text to you requesting that you respond and provide your personal information.

If you receive an email requesting personal or account information, please do not respond or click on any link. Instead, you should delete the email and contact Charter Oak during business hours by calling 860.446.8085 or toll free at 800.962.3237.
If you receive a telephone call requesting personal or account information, please do not provide any information to the caller. Please ask for the caller’s phone number and then hang up. Contact Charter Oak during business hours by calling 860.446.8085 or toll free at 800.962.3237 or visit any of our branches for assistance.

Your privacy and security are very important to us, and we want to ensure that your financial information always remains secure and protected.

FRAUD AND SECURITY

Phishing Alerts, Smishing Scams and Fraud Alerts

Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. Smishing is similar to phishing except that it is sent to smart devices through deceptive text messages.

PLEASE NOTE! Charter Oak’s Fraud Department has become aware that fraudulent calls or text messages are being made to our members attempting to get Debit Card numbers.

Please do not respond to this and never give out your personal information to anyone.

As a reminder, Charter Oak will never call you, or send an email or text to you requesting that you respond and provide your personal information. Please contact us immediately if you have received such a call or text and disclosed your information. Please call 860.446.8085 and press 2 to have your compromised card closed.

Member Education and Awareness

No data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network can be 100% guaranteed secure. Accordingly, while we strive to protect and maintain the security of our website and your personal information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us from the website, and you do so at your own risk.

How to Protect Yourself:

Shred sensitive documents instead of just throwing them in the trash or recycling bin.
Regularly change your passwords to reduce the risk of online identity theft.
Don’t make passwords easy to guess by using personal information or common words. Instead, get creative and use a long passphrase.
Double your login protection by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that the only person accessing your account is you.
Leave nothing of value in your car such as your wallet, laptop or mobile device.
Don’t give out personal information over the phone, over the Internet or through regular mail unless you initiated the contact. If you receive communication by someone claiming to be your financial institution, don’t respond. Instead, contact the institution with a number you know to be correct.
If a sale or contest on social media seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t get involved.
Limit what information you post on social media and keep tabs on your apps. Make sure there are no suspicious apps running in the background and only download apps from trusted vendors and sources.
Do not enter any sensitive personal information on your laptop or mobile device while using public wi-fi. This is a treasure trove for thieves just waiting to collect your information.
Be sure to have a password on your personal home wi-fi. This will keep hackers from breaking in to your system.
Never click links, reply to text messages or call numbers you don’t recognize.
Do not respond to text messages, even if the message requests that you “text STOP” to end messages.
Delete all suspicious texts. Validate any suspicious texts from a company or government agency by searching for the company’s contact information and calling or emailing them separately to confirm whether the text is legitimate.