Member security: What you need to know about fraudulent websites
As digital users grow more savvy, cybercriminals are getting more creative in their attempts to fool us. Posing as people or organizations you trust; they try to persuade you to let down your guard.
Usually, these phishing attempts to hook your private information take the form of a call, text or email. Lately, however, website spoofing has been on the rise. We’re here to help share the latest on member security to keep you and your financial information safe.
What’s a spoofed website?
A spoofed website is a replica of a trusted site, created to misdirect online users away from the organization they wish to visit. The misdirection goes to a phishing site where an online user is encouraged to enter their password or other sensitive information. People typically end up on a spoofed site when they type their destination into a search bar and the search result gets hijacked, pointing the user to a fraudulent site instead.
Spoofed websites can happen to any organization. But rest assured: We’re on it at OCCU. Your security is a top priority for us, and we’re always on alert so you don’t have to be.
“OCCU has a team of security professionals and resources that monitor for and take action to remove spoofed websites as quickly as we can,” says Matthew Wilson, our VP of risk and administration.
Look for the MyOCCU.org web address
Anytime you use a search engine or search bar to find our website, pay close attention to the web address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL). You want to ensure that you start your online visit with us at MyOCCU.org and navigate from there.
Member tip: Our Director of Information Security, Jessa Womack, suggests bookmarking the MyOCCU.org website in your browser to avoid accidentally accessing a spoofed site.
Let us know if you think your security is at risk
If you’ve been fooled by a fake website, don’t be embarrassed! Our team is here to help. Contact us immediately by phone or by visiting one of our branches. If you think you’ve entered your information into a fraudulent website, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re here to help guide you through it and keep your security at the forefront.
