Massive Phishing Attack Leads To Site’s Shutdown
LAKEWOOD, Colo.–Jeffco Credit Union temporarily shut down its online banking service following what it described as “multiple phishing attempts” targeting the credit union’s members. E-mails sent to members by the phishers fraudulently claimed account access was being suspended or limited and then provided a link to a website that was nearly a duplicate of Jeffco CU’s site. Local media reported that some members fell for the scam and provided their credit card information and also had money taken from their accounts. One member was quoted as saying her debit card was used in Romania for more than $1,000.
Guilty Plea Unmasks Master of Disguises Bandit
HONOLULU–An armed assailant who dressed as everything from a nurse to a wounded soldier to rob 11 island institutions–including the same branch of Hickam FCU three times–is headed to prison after his conviction on 13 counts of bank robbery and brandishing a firearm. Michael Rosario Jr., dubbed the “Master of Disguises Bandit,” agreed to plead guilty to the 13 counts and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.
The 42-year-old Rosario, who hit Hickam FCU facilities five times, carried out his robberies wearing ingenious disguises, such as that of a wounded soldier, a loudly dressed woman, a construction worker and a nurse in hospital scrubs. His disguises included fake beards and mustaches, wigs, make-up, even false breasts. He was eventually identified by police by fingerprints left on teller demand notes which matched Rosario’s, who was on probation for domestic abuse charges.
MECU Members Get Back $4.25-Million Rebate
BALTIMORE–MECU said it paid its members a year-end loan interest rebate and an extraordinary dividend of $2.12 million–making a total of $4.25 million paid out to members for 2007. The $830-million credit union, which has made the extraordinary member payout for 26 years in a row, did so in two installments for the first time this year–once at mid-year and once at year-end. Loan interest rebates were deposited into members’ share accounts Dec. 3, and the extraordinary dividends were deposited on Dec. 31.
Also paying a bonus was Hanscom FCU gave its members a special holiday present: a loyalty dividend totaling more than $1 million. The payout, up from last year’s $620,000, represents a 3% bonus on dividends earned and consumer loan finance charges paid in 2007. The funds were paid into members’ accounts on Dec. 31.
Congressional FCU’s Hess Retires
WASHINGTON–Congressional FCU, which serves more than half the members of the House of Representatives, announced the retirement of Robert Hess, its CEO for the past 38 years. Hess will be succeeded by Charles Mallon Jr., currently SVP of the $500-million credit union, who has been with Congressional for the past 17 years.
Hess, who built the CU from just $1.6-million in assets, has served many roles in CUs, including chairman of the D.C. CU League, chairman of NAFCU, and member of the Fed’s Consumer Advisory Council.
Meriwest Offers Layered Mortgage
SAN JOSE, Calif.–Meriwest CU is partnering with the Housing trust of Santa Clara County to provide a new affordable home mortgage to help moderate-income families buy their first home in this high-priced area.
Under the partnership, Meriwest’s CUSO, Meriwest Mortgage, will provide a first mortgage and the Housing Trust will add a below-market rate second loan, which will enable the homebuyers to reduce the rate on the credit union loan and prepay the private mortgage insurance.
