POPA FCU

Several members of our Credit Union has recently received a text message stating that it is from their financial institution and that their account has been frozen. This is a new phishing scam that asks members to call the number provided in the text message to "unfreeze" their account by entering their debit card number, pin number and expiration date. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND if you receive this text message and contact the Credit Union.

If you have received an email from any organization stating that your Credit Union account has been suspended or in any way compromised, PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND! POPA Federal Credit Union will contact you directly if there is any concern about your Credit Union account. Please protect your privacy and do not give any information to anyone you do not know. You can click on the sample letter below that was recently sent to one of our members stating that they are from the National Association of Federal Credit Union.

There has also been a new phishing scam email circulating amongst other Credit Union members recently as well. This email appears to be sent from the California Credit Union League asking members to fill out their personal information for a chance to receive a free iPhone. Never respond to emails that appear to be offical league giveaways/surveys. The League would not directly contact Credit Union members and it would never ask for personal information. If you have received any of these type of emails, please contact us at 800.369.7672.

For more practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information, please visit http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/phishing.aspx

SAFE & SECURE BANKING WITH POPA FCU

The economic news in recent weeks is not encouraging. The subprime mortgage crisis remains prominent, home values continue to trend downward, new housing starts are down, gas prices are soaring, consumer spending is down and consumer confidence is fading. With reports of major financial institutions headed for trouble, this has created a lot of doubt for consumers and our members alike.

We would like you to know that you need not worry, and your money is safe and secure at POPA FCU. We would also like to reassure you that here at POPA, you don't sacrifice safety for competitive rates. Your deposits are insured to $250,000 per account -- much the same as FDIC insurance, that federal deposit insurance through NCUA (NCUSIF) is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. We want to thank you, our members, for your continued loyalty and support. We appreciate your questions and concerns regarding the credit union as well as your finances. For more information, view the NCUA Share Insurance Estimator (an educational resource about share insurance) for a detailed explanation of insurance coverage.

As a friendly reminder, please remember to update your current address with POPA if you have moved or are planning to move. We have been receiving a high volume of returned mail due to bad addresses and we would like to ensure that all our members receive their important notices and/or statements from POPA in the future. Please call any one of our three offices nearest you to update this information.

In the instance your Mastermoney debit card is placed on hold due to "suspicious activity", a representative on behalf of POPA FCU will try to contact you at the primary telephone number we have on file. If your primary number is your mobile/cell, please call one of our three offices nearest you.

You will be asked to verify the last few transactions made, as well as giving the last four digits of your social security number and your date of birth. If the representative is not able to reach you at the primary number we have on file, your card will continue to be placed on hold until you contact the Credit Union or Falcon (our fraud control representative).

If your debit card is blocked from access during the weekend or after business hours and you do not receive a phone call from our representative, please call the toll free number listed below for immediate resolution.

Becoming a member of POPA Federal Credit Union is not only beneficial to you, it can also be beneficial to your family. In order to become a member of POPA, you will have to be affiliated with one of the following associations: PPOA, ALADS, LASPA, FOP, HAPCOA & LADAIA. Your immediate family members may also join through your sponsorship. Immediate family members include spouse, parents, and siblings. You must include a "Letter of Sponsorship" (states your relationship to family member, your date and signature, and your account number) along with the membership application. For additional information regarding how to open an account and the information you will need to provide to us, click here or call the POPA office nearest you.

Adobe Reader is required to view these documents. Click on "Get Adobe Reader" icon to download a free version.