Security and Fraud Alerts 


Cell Phone Text Messaging Fraud Alert:

It has come to our attention that some First Citizens’ members may have recently received text messages on their cell phones claiming to be from the credit union informing you that we have locked out or deactivated your account and that you need to call a specific number to re-activate your account. This is a fraudulent text message and an attempt to capture your personal information. Please do not respond to such a text message because you will soon find that your account has been hit by criminals.

First Citizens’ will NEVER request any personal information (such as account numbers, passwords, PINS, or Social Security Numbers, etc.) through a text message or an unsecured email.

 If you did call the number and gave any personal information, please contact us at 1-800-642-7515 IMMEDIATLEY, so we can protect your account information.

If you receive a text message that appears to be from First Citizens’ but suspect that it is not legitimate, you should file a police report and you may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission www.FTC.gov

Debit Card Fraud Alert:

First Citizens’ has been informed of a security compromise to Heartland Payment Systems, a major U.S. based processor of retail transactions. Published reports indicate information that may have been compromised includes debit and credit card numbers and expiration dates. The intrusion is reported to have occurred between May 2008 and November 2008. To date First Citizens’ has identified relatively few customer accounts that may be at risk, and has taken action to prevent fraudulent activities to selected accounts. First Citizens’ will be contacting cardholders whose cards may have been compromised in this breach. However, the security breach is considered to be a significant one rivaling some of the largest such occurrences to date, and you should be alert to possible fraudulent use of your card information.

We would ask all of our debit card customers to review your account activity for possible unauthorized transactions and immediately report any such occurrences to us at 1-800-642-7515. As always, be on the lookout for signs of potential identity theft, especially over the next 12 to 24 months. If at any time you notice any discrepancies between your statements and your own records, please notify us immediately. Our risk management and operations team of professionals has been monitoring the compromise on a constant basis and are taking any and all actions possible to protect your account. We will keep you informed of the progress of this breach as important information becomes available.

In addition, always keep in mind the following safeguards:  

1.      Check your monthly statements to ensure they match your recollection and your other records. If you have online access, check them frequently. If at any time you notice any discrepancies between your statements and your other records, please notify us immediately.

2.      Never give out account numbers or other personal financial information, unless you can validate the authenticity of the requestor.

3.      Always shred personal and financial information before discarding it.

4.      Review your credit report, at least annually. You’re entitled to a free credit report annually. Simply contact one of the three main credit-reporting bureaus:

As with all possible fraudulent situations, you are encouraged to take appropriate measures if a scam is suspected. Note that an excessive number of attempts at small dollar pre-authorizations may be an indication of intent to commit fraud.

If you have questions concerning your account and possible fraudulent activity, please contact us at 1-800-642-7515. For more information regarding security issues, please click here to visit our online education center.