FRB Federal Credit Union Security Alert

Temporary block on Visa debit card use in Southeast Asia

We regret to inform you that the FRB Federal Credit Union and Visa have placed a temporary block on our members’ card use in Southeast Asia. The Visa region includes Japan, Malaysia, China, and Hong Kong. We hope the block can be removed in the near future.

The FRB Credit Union is committed to minimizing the potential for unauthorized ATM and Visa transactions on member share accounts. The Credit Union employs security measures to protect our members’ cards and quickly identify potential card fraud. As a result of our security procedures, we regularly receive notices of suspicious transactions and lists of potentially compromised cards.

Suspicious transactions pose the most immediate indication of fraud. When notices of suspicious transactions are received, the Credit Union immediately implements appropriate security measures to control the situation. Last week the Credit Union began to receive a series of such notices. Many transactions, posted in Japan, were fraudulent. Our security experts immediately began an investigation. They determined the point of origination, placed a special watch on our members’ card transactions, and blocked subsequent attempts to use the card. Additionally, our database continues to be carefully monitored, and security experts with Visa and our processor are looking for ways to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

The security measures we employed included determining whether the transactions were fraudulent, contacting Credit Union members, "hot carding" the compromised cards to prevent further charges, instituting a formal fraud report with Visa, ensuring the account was made whole if funds were disbursed, and issuing a new card. These measures limited the "event" to seven cards and prevented all but two transactions from actually posting to our members’ accounts. No member will suffer a loss as a result of this event.

We are committed to protecting our members and our Credit Union from financial loss as a result of fraud. Thus, it is important that you immediately contact us (800-554-8969) if you become aware of any potential or actual problem with your card. Someone will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you. We encourage you to monitor your account activity with NetTeller or Audio Teller for any unauthorized transactions.

Members can rest assured that Visa debit card transactions are protected 100 percent from loss through fraud.