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6/8/2010 - Phone Scam Targeting "612" and "952" Area Codes Using Wings' Name
Fraudulent calls (often called Vishing scams) are targeting the "612" and "952" area codes in the Minneapolis- St. Paul metro area. On these calls, an automated voice states they are from Wings Financial and asks the person to enter their debit or credit card numbers.The calls look legitimate because Wings Financial usually appears in the recipient's caller ID. The phone number is a private business phone number, but neither the business nor Wings Financial are involved with these calls.
These calls have been received by non-members as well as members of Wings. This is because the scammers will often select an area code and a financial institution within the area. They will then randomly pick numbers to call, assuming at least some of the people they reach will have accounts at the institution, and convince them to reveal data.
REMEMBER: Wings Financial does not request financial information over the phone unless the call is initiated by you, and only after we have verified your identity. If you receive a suspicious call, DO NOT provide the information requested.
What is Vishing? The calls reported are Vishing attempts. Vishing is a form of phishing where a phone call is used instead of an email to lure consumers into giving out personal information. The calls can be live or automated. In many of these instances, the callers say they are from an institution the person doesn't have an account with.
What to do if you are a Vishing victim: If you gave out any information related to your Wings accounts through a Vishing call, contact Member Services immediately to report it: 1 800 692-2274, option 2
To report Vishing attempts to authorities: Gather as much of the information below as possible, then contact your local FBI office.
- Phone number the call was received from, if available
- Details of the phone conversation or recorded message
- What information were they asking for (account numbers, debit card information, etc.)?
- If you gave out information, did you close the related account(s) or card(s)?
- If a number was given to you to return the call, what was the number?
- Was the call received by you on a cell phone or a landline?
- if the call was to your cell phone, who is your service provider?
Additional Scam & Fraud Alert Information
Most scams are attempted in hopes of obtaining personal data to steal identities and ultimately, money. Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, so it's important to be aware of scams that are out there, and just being aware can make you a less likely victim.
REMEMBER: Wings Financial will never ask you to reveal personal/account information by sending you a link to a form via email or text messaging.
Android Platform Alert - While this alert does not affect Wings mobile banking users directly, please be aware that fake, downloadable mobile banking "shell" applications have recently been deployed by scammers using the Android platform. These "shell" applications are built to look like legitimate financial institution applications to trick consumers into giving their account information.
Wings currently offers only browser-based access to mobile banking, so should you encounter any downloadable application purporting to be from Wings, it is fraudulent, and you should not download the application.
If you access other institutions via a downloadable Android application, it is recommended by our service provider that you use only browser-based applications until the Android platform has been proven secure for financial institutions.
Malware - Malware is one of the greatest threats to your PC's security. There are numerous types of malware, and they are constantly changing. Be sure to keep your virus protection software updated, your operating system and browsers updated with the latest patches, and run regular virus scans on your home computer.
New Email Phishing Scams -A new series of email phishing attempts will tempt you to visit a Web site to either input sensitive data (card numbers) or download attachments containing malware. DO NOT click the links or open any attachments associated with these emails. If you encounter emails with subjects such as those below, simply delete them, and consider reporting them by clicking the link below under "Additional Resources"
- Subject: Notice of Underreported Income (This email appears to be from the IRS)
- Subject: Your VISA card is temporarily locked (Appears to be from VISA)
- Subject: Rejected ACH transaction, please review the transaction report (attempts to trick consumers into giving information related to an ACH transaction)
Text Message Scams - Some Wings members may receive text messages stating their account has been closed. The message may appear to be from Wings or another financial institution. These messages are scams and have no connection to Wings or the financial institutions they say they are from. The messages may provide a phone number to call for assistance. DO NOT CALL this number, or any number that you are not familiar with received in a text message or email.
Other Known Scams:
Additional Resources:
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