CU's tough stance on ID theft commended in editorial

MOLINE, Ill. (6/9/08)--Using bogus official-looking e-mails and auto dialers, identity thieves have initiated several scams this year to try to trick IH Mississippi Valley CU's 85,000 members into disclosing their personal account information. The credit union's response has been lauded by a local newspaper.

The $601.7 million asset, Moline, Ill.-based credit union has immediately responded at least three times this year to thwart the scammers' attempts (Quad-Cities Times June 6).

The newspaper said in an editorial: "IH Mississippi Valley has been an ardent community supporter in addition to a successful credit union. We commend its extensive security and public information efforts to fight this scam head on. And we urge readers to follow the credit union's advice and contact it and the police if scammers hit again."

The credit union has been targeted with identity theft attempts with a frequency that is frustrating the credit union and its members, Laura Ernzen, IH Mississippi spokesperson, told the paper.

A few members have fallen for the scams, although none have endured permanent losses, she said. Federal authorities are investigating the scams, Ernzen added.

courtesy of cuna.org