Identity theft is a rapidly growing form of internet fraud, commonly led by "phishing". Phishing can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and the destruction of confidence in any institution whose site has been phished.

How does it work?

Online thieves will send out emails that appear to look like they are from legitimate organizations. The email will direct victims to fraudulent websites, where the victim is asked to enter personal and financial information.

Because the phished site looks legitimate and the request appears to come from a trusted source, victims can easily be persuaded to enter sensitive information. Common targets of phishing include credit card numbers and Social Insurance Numbers (SINs), bank account information, addresses, or phone numbers and emails.

Want to learn more about fraud and identity theft? The Government of Canada has several helpful resources for your protection.

Here are some tips to help you guard against phishing and other types of identity theft:

1. Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information. Access Credit Union or any other reputable institution will never request personal or financial information in this manner. Please be aware the Access Credit Union will never ask you to provide confidential information through regular or unencrypted emails. If you receive an email that asks you to provide ANY confidential banking information, do not respond and please notify us by sending us an email. To help with our investigation, please include a description of the incident and attach any emails you received that you suspect may be fraudulent. Avoid changing or retyping any part of the original message as this may interfere with our investigation. Once you have forwarded it to us, please delete the email from your inbox.
2. Do not use webpage links in an email if you suspect the email or website may not be authentic.
3. Avoid filling out forms in emails that ask for personal financial information. Always ensure you are using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information through your web browser.
4. Check your bank, credit, and debit card statements to ensure all transaction are legitimate. Be cautious of emails and websites pretending to represent a legitimate company that asks you to provide confidential and financial information.

As always, Access Credit Union is where you need us to be if you have any questions or concerns. Visit your branch today or call our Member Solutions Centre at 1.800.264.2926.