Protect Yourself Online

Over the past year, phishing has been a persistent problem for many financial institutions. Financial Partners has managed to prevent and address many of these illegal schemes before they affect many members. However you must never let your guard down as new scams are constantly showing up.

Please note Financial Partners will never send you an email requesting your Social Security Number or PIN. If you receive an email like this, delete it and please notify us as soon as possible. For instance, recently a forged email has been distributed under the sender name of 'NAFCU' (National Association Federal Credit Union). In this example, the email provides a link and which sends the recipient to what appears to be a legitimate site. However, the site asks for the recipient's Social Security Number and PIN which is something no financial institution would request.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Never provide sensitive personal information via email or through an unsolicited URL link. Always go to the home page of the requesting organization to ensure exactly who you are providing information to. Financial Partners, as most financial institutions does not ask for any personal account information via an email.
• Be cautious about opening any attachments or links as well as downloading any files from emails you receive. Many download tracking software to your PC.
• Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges.

If you suspect you are a victim of an email phishing scam, contact Financial Partners immediately by calling 800.950.7238. You may also contact the Federal Trade Commission by emailing spam@uce.gov or the Internet Fraud Complaint Center of the FBI at www.ifccfbi.gov.