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Consumer Alert!!

Phishing Internet/E-mail Scam

Internet scammers casting about for people’s financial information have a new way to lure unsuspecting victims: They go "phishing". Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam to deceive consumers into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords and other sensitive information. In a typical case, you’ll receive an email that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and do business with - or even from a government or regulatory agency. The e-mail will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. The e-mail will then encourage you to click on a button to go to the institution’s web site to update your account information. In a phishing scam you could be redirected to a phony web site for the purpose of harvesting your financial information. By providing the requested information,  you may find yourself the victim of identity theft.

DIRECTIONS CREDIT UNION WILL NEVER ASK FOR SENSITIVE INFORMATION IN THIS FASHION via PHONE CALL, E-MAIL, OR PHONE TEXT MESSAGING.

The best defense against phishing attacks is prevention:

  • Ignore e-mails or pop-up messages that request personal or financial information

  • Don’t use links in messages, even if the message appears to come from your credit union. Enter your credit union’s Web address in the browser yourself. Phishers can make links look like they go one place, but it actually send you to their legitimate-looking fake site.

  • Read carefully. Typically, phishing messages are not personalized, whereas official credit union communications are. A typical warning sign is that the communication presents an urgent nature to the request. 

  • Call to confirm the message. Use the phone number printed on official statements or credit cards. Do not use the number that appears in the message.

  • Keep your home and work computers safe with current technology solutions, including gateway routers and virus/malware/spyware detection software, which will help prevent virus infections and warn when you are attempting to access a known phishing site.

  • Don’t e-mail personal or financial information. If you must, utilize e-mail encryption services (Zix) or product add-ons (Trend Micro E-mail Encryption Client Plug-in) that provide greater security.

  • Review credit card and account statements, as well as online transaction, as soon as they are available to check for unauthorized charges.

  • Only open attachments or download files that you have requested or subscribed to.

  • Forward phishing e-mails as an attachment to spam@uce.gov and the impersonated organization impersonated.

If you are suspicious of any email or text message asking for personal information or if you have provided information but felt later it was not legitimate, contact us or your financial institution immediately to alert them.


If you feel you have compromised your Directions account or your identity in any way by responding to a phone call, email, or text message that you think may be fraudulent, please contact us at 419-841-9838.

If you’ve been scammed, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Web site at www.ftc.gov/idtheft for assistance. Also, file a complaint on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center Web site, www.ic3.gov/.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime. This occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Protect yourself! For further information and helpful tips, click the link below.

Federal Trade Commission - Tips on How to Help Protect Yourself from Identity Theft