Direct Banking Alerts

Your bank accounts can never be too safe. For added protection we've added a feature that automatically sends you an email and/or text message to your mobile device and/or computer to alert you of certain changes to your account made through online banking. You can contact us if the changes need to be addressed.

Remember, anytime you suspect that your account information has been compromised, report it to us immediately and always remember to review your account statements.

Choose to receive any or all of these five Alerts:

• NEW BILL PAYEE ADDED - You will receive an alert when a new bill payee has been added to your account through online banking.
• ENHANCED PERSONAL MESSAGE - You will receive an alert to notify you of a personal online banking message
• INCORRECT PERSONAL ACCESS CODE (account locked) - You will receive an alert when your online banking account has been locked after the maximum number of failed attempts to input your Personal Access Code.
• PERSONAL ACCESS CODE CHANGED - You will receive an alert when your Personal Access Code (PAC) has been changed through online banking.
• INCORRECT PERSONAL ACCESS ANSWERS (account locked) - You will receive an alert when your online banking account has been locked after the maximum number of failed attempts to answer your Personal Access Question.

Important: If you receive one of the above messages and you did not attempt to access your account, please notify us immediately – your account information may be compromised.

By email, text message or both

You can receive Alerts through text messages and/or email messages to your mobile device and/or computer so remember to check your phone and/or email regularly. Alerts are only available for activities performed through your Public Service Credit Union online banking or through mobile banking with Smart phones. Alerts will not be sent if changes are made through telephone banking or at the branch.

No Fee

There is no sign-up fee or credit union fee to receive Alerts however; your wireless carrier may charge you for receiving text messages and for data usage. Please check with your wireless carrier for details about your account package.

How to set up your Alerts:

1. Sign-in to your online banking account.
2. Go to "Messages and Alerts".
3. Under "Alerts", you can choose the Alerts you'd like to receive – any or all. (You can also turn off or change your Alert choices here.)

Under "Alerts Contacts", enter the email address and/or the mobile phone number where you would like to receive your Alerts. (Our privacy code ensures that your personal information will remain secure)

Password and Personal Access Code Tips:

• Don't use your date of birth or year of birth
• Don't use parts of your Social Insurance Number
• Don't repeat the same number , i.e. 11111, 77777
• Don't use a consecutive sequence of numbers i.e. 12345, 45678
• Don't use the same password or Personal Access Code for other cards and sites.
• DO set up direct banking alerts. With this step, you will receive a notification if there is any activity on your account(s) and given an opportunity to determine if it is authorized by you. Simply login to online banking, choose Messages and Alerts from the side menu, and follow the instructions.

What is an Intercepted e-Transfer you wonder?

This occurs when a customer sends an e-Transfer to someone they know. Criminals seize the opportunity to deposit the funds to a mule account before the intended recipient has the chance. The interception is not caused by a vulnerability in MemberDirect or the Interac e-Transfer product, but rather because the recipient’s email account was accessed by a criminal. Once in that account, criminals can “see” the notification from Interac and use the deposit link to redirect funds into a different account by answering the security question.

Here are some tips to help protect yourself:

• Do not communicate the answer to the security question via email.  Call and/or text the recipient with the password.
• Select a question and answer that is not easy for a third party to guess. If the notification is intercepted, it will be harder for a criminal to answer and steal the funds.
• Be cautious not to click on any phishing links and ensure you are only transacting with trusted websites, vendors and people.
• Immediately notify your financial institution if you sense anything suspicious about your transaction.
• Register for Autodeposit (if enabled for your institution). This will make sending money on the e-Transfer service more secure.
• Interac has announced they will begin scoring, alerting, and reporting on suspicious e-Transfers sent to potentially compromised email accounts to proactively prevent being intercepted by an unintended recipient.

Summary

Newfoundland and Labrador cell phone users are being targeted by a phishing scam. Potential victims receive a text from the "709" area code containing a malicious link that appears to be an electronic fund transfer. Information given through this link provides scammers with direct access to your account.