Suspect Caught in Notre Dame FCU Phishing Scam
NOTRE DAME, Ind.-A suspect was arrested in a phishing scam that hit Notre Dame FCU over Labor Day weekend and drained funds from as many as 60 members. The suspect was captured near an ATM in California where unauthorized withdrawal activity had been tracked on several members' debit cards.
"They made an arrest at 1 a.m. California time, and the suspect had in his possession about 20 different debit cards," Leo Ditchcreek, president of the $400 million credit union, told Credit Union Journal. "Eighteen were our members' cards with their PIN numbers." Ditchcreek said the scam appeared to have been launched late Friday with e-mails sent to a host of members and non-members alike with a link that directed them to a website that was nearly identical to the credit union's genuine site.
The phony website was hosted by a firm in the Netherlands, and Notre Dame FCU was able to get it shut down early that Monday. When the credit union posted a warning on its own site and through local media, a number of members contacted the credit union to report they had received and responded to one of the e-mails. The credit union quickly shut off access to those accounts and was able to track where unauthorized withdrawals were being made, helping law enforcement locate the suspect.
Bay State CU Plans Back-Door Conversion To Bank
HAVERHILL, Mass.-A handful of Northeast Community CU's 10,000 members could determine whether the 73-year-old credit union will merge with nearby Haverhill Bank when members vote at a special meeting next week. Instead of converting first to a mutual savings bank, then merging into the nearby MSB-as several other credit unions have done-the $110-million credit union plans to merge directly into the $130 million savings bank. As a result, the merger between the credit union and bank, allowed under state law, will be decided by the fewer than 100 members expected at next week's meeting.
State law requires that members approve mergers of state-chartered credit unions. The deal is one of three pending under the state's newly passed law allowing credit unions to convert to savings banks. The others are Community CU of Lynn ($135 million) and $115 million First Priority CU (formerly Postal Community CU). The combination of Northeast Community CU and Haverhill Bank will be the first merger of a credit union and bank.
Diamond CU: 60 Days For 60 Years
POTTSTOWN, Pa.-Diamond CU celebrated its 60th anniversary with 60 days of special events starting with Car Clings for Cash, where 60 members were "spotted" by Diamond's Roving Patrol and given $60 gift cards. The two-month spree culminated with 60th Anniversary Celebrations at the Pottstown and Reading Offices, where 10 lucky members went into a Money Grab Machine and came out with handfuls of cash. Since its 1947 inception, Diamond CU has grown from a single employer-based credit union to a $285 million community credit union serving more than 32,000 members at three branches.
United SA FCU Rewards e-Bankers
SAN ANTONIO-United SA FCU has introduced a no-minimum balance, free checking account for its members. Premium Reward Checking will pay a 6.01% APY, and refund all fees paid for ATMs nationwide.
To qualify, members must make at least 10 free MasterCard Debit transactions, use the credit union's online banking at least once a month and receive monthly statements electronically.
Driver Sentenced In WFFCU Robbery
WORCESTER, Mass.-A man who drove the getaway car after last year's robbery at Webster First FCU was sentenced to up to six years in state prison. Charles Pardee, 39, pleaded guilty Aug. 29 to unarmed robbery for the June 5, 2006, hold-up. Pardee's accomplice, John Grenier, 31, who committed the credit union heists, was sentenced June 26 to six to seven years in state prison.
Corrections & Clarifications
Southwest Corporate FCU's listing in CU Journal's Factbook & Buyer's Guide was missing the name of its CEO, John Cassidy. The address should be Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union, 6801 Parkwood Blvd., Plano, TX 75024.
