E-mail, phone scam uses Jeffco Credit Union logo

Jeffco Credit Union of Lakewood on Friday temporarily halted online bank transactions after being deluged since Thursday with reports of phony e-mails and phone calls trying to get customers to disclose their credit card numbers. The scam is known as “phishing.”

The credit union has disabled transferrals and withdrawals in an effort to prevent customers’ losses, 9News said Friday night. Account viewing is still allowed. Many people who are not members of the credit union are receiving the e-mails and phone calls.

A notice on the Jeffco Credit Union website, www.jeffcocu.coop, says: “The phish attempts are growing, more and more people are being sent these fraudulent e-mails. We are making sure we get all of these fraudulent websites shut down as we find out about them. If you should receive any of these e-mails, please be sure to forward any examples to a special e-mail account we have set up just for these.” (phish@jeffcocu.coop).

The credit union has contacted the FBI and is working with an Internet security firm.

Founded in 1948, Jeffco Credit Union mainly serves the Jefferson County School District. It has more than 20,000 customers. The main location is in Lakewood at 355 Union Blvd. Other branches are in Littleton and Arvada.

One fraudulent “Dear member” e-mail received by a Canyon Courier staffer announces the credit union suspended his account after three unsuccessful log-in attempts. It says in order to reactivate the account, the user must sign into another website using the link provided and provide new personal information, namely credit card number, expiration date, security code and ATM PIN number. The recipient of the e-mail is not a member of the credit union.

A woman who lives in Lakewood received an automated phone call from a voice identified as “Jeffco Credit Union Security Department,” asking her to enter her credit card number, 9News.com said.

The credit union first posted notice of the phishing attempt on Dec. 21.