‘Rogue' websites hit Michigan, S. Carolina CUs

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (10/4/04)--Michigan and South Carolina credit unions are being warned about "rogue" websites--sites that have similar names to legitimate credit union sites and may be trying to fraudulently collect personal financial information from consumers.

Three credit unions in the Michigan Credit Union League's (MCUL) Flint Chapter have been targets of such websites (Michigan Monitor Oct. 4). Also, the South Carolina Credit Union League tells News Now that South Carolina FCU, Charleston, is also a target.

According to Tim Bohlman, MCUL web development director, a company will purchase a domain name that is very close to the name of a legitimate credit union (Michigan Monitor Oct. 4).

"For example if your credit union website address is www.greatcreditunion.org, a rogue website may use something like www.greatcreditunion.com, www.greatcreditunion.net or even www.greatcu.org."

Often the sites are nothing more than portal pages with ads and links to financial services. However, they can be designed to look like legitimate credit union sites, Bohlman said. He added that they may even be used to perpetrate fraud by soliciting account numbers and other personal data.

Bohlman had several pieces of advice for credit unions:

  • Make sure their names are service marked;
  • Consider registering several domain names that are similar to the "official" one, particularly variations using extensions such as .com, .org and .net; and
  • Include the proper website address in all marketing and printed materials to get members familiar with the legitimate domain name.

A resource for domain registration is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It has policies regarding disputes between registrants and third parties over the registration and use of domain names.

  Resource Links
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
Anytime Adviser: Identity Theft Coach


More CU/System

Copyright © 2012 Credit Union National Association