GUAM BANKERS ASSOCIATION ALERTS
GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT PHONE AND TEXT SCAM

(Hatgana Guam, November 2, 2010)- The Guam Bankers Association would like to inform the general public about a recent fraudulent phone call and text message scam. 

The automated recorded phone message identifies itself as calling from a local bank and informs the recipient that their account is being deactivated.   The fraudulent text message contains a phone number to call that requests their 16 digit credit card number.  

We urge anyone who receives this call to just hang up and to delete the text message.  If you did respond to a questionable phone call, text message or email and provided your personal account information, please immediately contact your bank’s customer service department. Customer service numbers are also listed on the back of credit cards. 

The Guam Bankers Association members want consumers to know that they should never respond with their account information to such requests.  No legitimate financial institution will ever solicit its customers for personal account information over the phone, via text message or online.  

The Association also advises consumers:

• Be wary of unsolicited phone calls requesting account information over the phone or by text or email even if they claim or appear to be on behalf of a bank familiar to you.
• Verify that the phone number that is calling you is indeed your bank’s phone number or that the website is authentic before making any transaction.
• Always type the website URL address yourself, never click on a link which could re-direct you to a fraudulent website.
• If you fall victim to a phishing fraud, act immediately to protect yourself by alerting your financial institution, placing fraud alerts on your credit files and monitoring your account statements closely.

The Guam Bankers Association is a trade organization made up of member local banks, which include:  Bank of Guam, Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Metro Bank, First Commercial Bank, Bank Pacific, ANZ, Citibank and Oceanic Bank.

For further information, contact GBA President, Nette Camacho at Nette.Camacho@boh.com ((479-3722) or GBA Vice President, Ed Untalan at euntalan@fhb.com (475-7856).

UNLAWFUL INTERNET GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT ACT (UIGEA) of 2006

The UIGEA, signed into law in 2006, prohibits any person engaged in the business of betting or wagering (as defined in the Act) from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful internet gambling. The Dept of Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board have issued a joint final rule, Regulation GG, to implement this Act

As defined in Regulation GG, unlawful internet gambling means to "place, receive or otherwise knowingly transmit a bet or wager by any means which involves the use, at least in part, of the internet where such bet or wager is unlawful under any applicable Federal or State law in the State or Tribal lands in which the bet or wager is initiated, received or otherwise made"

As a customer of BankPacific, these restricted transactions are prohibited from being processed through your account or banking relationship with us. If you do engage in an Internet gambling business and open a new account with us, we will as that you provide evidence of your legal capacity to do so.

Please see one of our Operations specialists if you would like additional information on UIGEA or Regulation GG.

Bauer Financial RATES BankPacific EXCELLENT. Calls BankPacific "One of the Best Banks In the Country"

BankPacific has earned an "Excellent" rating according to Bauer Financial Inc., the nation's leading independent bank rating system firm.

"All of us at BankPacific are honored to be recognized by Bauer Financial and to be named by them to be 'one of the best banks in the country.' This recognition reflects the commitment of the bank's directors, officers and staff in our contiuning efforts to build a social financial foundation for BankPacific and our customers," said Flores.

BankPacific has been serving the financial needs of our Pacific region since 1954.

Phising Attmpts Detected on Equifax ePORT Customers.

Equifax has verified that phising attempts have been made on some customers using the online deliever portal Equifax ePORT.

In this instance, Equifax ePORT customers have reported receiving e-mail appearing to be from Eqifax requesting that they provide Company ID, User ID and Password. Equifax would never ask for these information.

These e-mails have not been sent from Equifax and are not legitimate. DO NOT RESPOND TO THEM

If you believe you have responded to a phising attempt concerning your Equifax ePORT account, please call Equifax at 1-888-592-0088 immediately or fax at 770-752-1275.