Check Forgers Hoist On Their Own Petard
SALT LAKE CITY-Nine suspects were charged with running a counterfeit check ring that created bogus business checks and cashed them at most of the city's major CUs and banks.
The ring messed up though, when they tried to pass a check using the signature of the federal prosecutor who had signed previous papers charging the ringleader with forgery.
The defendant in both cases is 38-year-old Justine Coppolino. Coppolino apparently scanned the prosecutor's signature off the old document and used it on a counterfeit check, authorities said. The group created high-quality fake checks on home computers which were cashed at Mountain America FCU, America First FCU, Zions Bank, Wells Fargo and Chase Bank, among others.
In all, 83 phony checks were cashed for more than $70,000. The group made out the checks to themselves, then cashed them at grocery stores or other businesses. The authorizing signatures on the checks were scanned in signatures of real people, including the CEO of one local credit union and the former chairman of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.
Excelsior CU to Pay Pre-Merger Dividend
ALBANY, N.Y.-The board of Excelsior CU has approved a bonus dividend and interest refund to members in the amount of $750,000, to be paid prior to the $90 million credit union's merger with Capital Communications FCU. Payments will be posted to Excelsior members' regular share draft accounts in mid-September. The pre-merger payout will be divided equally between savers and borrowers. This is the fourth merger for $560 million CapCom in the past three years.
Chicago Patrolmen's CU Adds ID Theft Protection
CHICAGO-Chicago Patrolmen's CU said yesterday it signed with LifeLock to help prevent and resolve cases of identity theft among its members.
LifeLock enables members to "lock" their credit by setting and automatically renewing fraud alerts with the three major credit bureaus, removing member names from pre-approved credit card offers and junk mail lists, and providing a $1 million guarantee. LifeLock is based in Tempe, Ariz.
CINCO Signs With Lending Solutions
CINCINNATI-CINCO Family Financial Center CU said it has signed with Lending Solutions to enable online lending capabilities. CINCO is expanding its loan services to include LSI's National Loan Processing call center. CINCO serves residents in three surrounding counties: Hamilton, Butler and Clermont.
Del Norte CU Reports 'Vishing' Bid
LOS ALAMOS, N.M.-Members of Del Norte CU are being targeted by a telephone solicitation to give out their personal account information, a so-called "vishing" scheme.
Members have been receiving automated phone calls instructing them to call a toll-free number and provide their credit union debit or credit card account number. The credit union has assured its members account databases have not been compromised by this scam.
Officials also reminded members Del Norte CU never contacts them to request private information regarding their accounts. Members who may already have responded to the scam are advised to contact the credit union immediately.
City CU to Acquire DART FCU
DALLAS-City CU, one of the largest credit unions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, has agreed to acquire DART FCU. City CU, founded in 1942 to serve Dallas employees, has $153 million in assets and serves 32,000 members. DART FCU, with almost $5 million in assets, was founded in 1939 and serves Dallas Area Rapid Transit, members of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, and several select groups.
AmeriCU CU Plans Three Branches
ROME, N.Y.-AmeriCU CU has applied to state regulators for permission to add three more branches to its current network of 11 outlets.
The new branches would be in the upstate New York towns of Cicero, Lowville and Herkimer. The credit union has more than $600 million in assets and serves more than 100,000 members.
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