The following alerts have been brought to our attention by members or the media:
BillFloat Calls to Members
We have received questions from some of our members regarding a company named BillFloat which offers to pay your bills, allowing you a float period. The enrollment process for this service asks for your online banking username and password. We strongly recommend that members do not give their online banking credentials to anyone. We are not affiliated with BillFloat and we cannot guarantee the security of your online banking credentials if you elect to give them to third-parties.
Fraudulent email sent to members - Visa Gift Card
The email notifies you that you won a $1,000 Visa Gift Card. It directs you to a site to enter personal information. This email is a scam, so please do not visit the site or give out any information. If you have received this scam and accidentally given out your information, please notify the EFT Card Services Dept. immediately at 1-800-226-6673. Please forward all suspicious emails to abuse@pefcu.com
Below is a sample of the email being sent:
Dear Member,
On behalf of Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (pefcu) you have been issued a $1,000 Visa Gift Card free of charge.
Card type: Visa Gift Card
Issued to: Member name
Issuing branch: Florida
Valid until: 08/2015
Please use the following website to claim your card and have it shipped to the address of your choosing:
Go to: www rewards2012 com
Note that claims must be made within 48 hours from this email being sent, or the above link will become invalid.
Sincerely, Rachel
Customer Service
Employee Benefits Center, LLC
President Obama will pay your Utility Bills
A new scam claiming that President Obama will pay your utility bills through a new federal program has been reported by several U.S. utility companies and their customers.
Consumers have been contacted in person and through fliers, social media and text messages with claims that President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.
To receive the money, scammers will ask for the consumer’s social security and bank routing numbers. In return, customers are given a phony bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills.
To avoid this Scam and as a general rule:
- Never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone or at your home unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with whom you are speaking.
- If you receive a call claiming to be your utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
- Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. Also, ask utility employees for proper identification.
- Always think safety first. Do not give in to high pressure tactics over the phone for information or in person to get into your home.
Fraudulent Email
It has come to our attention that an unknown person or persons have been sending emails claiming to be offering free Visa Gift Cards and/or other free gifts on behalf of Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU). These emails are false and are not being sent by PEFCU.
An example of one of the emails is described below:
Subject: Your Name, a thank you from Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (pefcu)
Message Body:
Dear Your Name,
On behalf of Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (pefcu) you have been issued a $1,000 Visa Gift Card free of charge.
Card type: Visa Gift Card
Issued to: Your Name
Issuing branch: Branch Location May Vary
Valid until: 08/2015
Please use the following website to claim your card and have it shipped to the address of your choosing:
Go to: url of the malicious website.
Note that claims must be made within 48 hours from this email being sent, or the above link will become invalid.
Sincerely,
Rachel - Customer Service
Employee Benefits Center, LLC.
If you receive this or a similar email message, do not click the embedded URL link within the message body and delete the email immediately.
Verified by Visa Scam
We have been informed that a fraudulent text message, email, or call is being made to members from a phony "Verified by Visa" voice attendant asking for your Debit Card number. This is a scam, so please do not give any information or return this type of call. PEFCU or our Fraud Protection Services will never need you to provide your Debit Card, Visa Credit Card, or Account Information to us over the phone, by email, or by text message. We have your information on file so we would not need you to give this type of information to anyone. If you have received this scam and accidentally given your information to anyone over the phone or email, please notify the EFT Card Services Dept. immediately at 1-800-226-6673.
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