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We have engaged FORVIS, LLP (Attn: Jeff Rosno, 1801 California Street , Ste. 2900, Denver, CO 80202) to perform member verifications. Kindly compare the balance of your accounts on your December 2022 statement WITH YOUR RECORDS. If balances do not agree, please address your discrepancies directly to FORVIS, LLP. Include your name, truncated account number, and an explanation of the difference noted. A reply is not considered necessary unless a difference is noted.
Kirtland CU branches and the Member Contact Center will be closed Monday, September 4 in observance of Labor Day.
Due to a power outage, our Montgomery Crossings branch is currently closed.
Our other branches remain open to serve your needs, as well as Kirtland CU Online & Mobile Banking.
By Ashleigh, K-Staff
What do you picture when you think of a “money mule”?
Literal interpretations aside, a money mule is a person who is used to transfer and launder illegally acquired money or merchandise (i.e. stolen!) on behalf of or at the direction of another. If you’re a fan of the popular Orange Is The New Black series, you seen an up-close dramatization of a money mule scheme when the main character unwittingly carries drug money onto an international flight.
But unlike in the hit series, you don’t have to be in a foreign country to play a money mule role—in fact, you don’t ever have to meet the criminal in person. In this high-tech world, a cyber actor can enter through your computer and, with the right leverage, persuade you to act illegally on their behalf.
The FBI recently issued a warning about this particular brand of confidence/romance fraud. Through online dating sites, a criminal finds a mark and begins to build a relationship, to create trust. And leaning on that trust, the cyber actor convinces the mark to open accounts under the guise of sending or receiving funds. If the account is flagged by the financial institution, the cyber actor will either direct the victim to open a new account or choose a new mark and begin again.
In other situations, the fraudster claims to be a European citizen or an American living abroad. After a few months of developing trust, the actor will tell the victim about a lucrative business opportunity.
“There are investors willing to fund the project!” says the criminal. “But they need a U.S. bank account to receive funds, and you can help!”
The victim is asked to open a bank account or register a limited liability company in the victim’s name and then to receive and send money from that account to other accounts controlled by the fraudster.
Dating sites are popular fishing spots for victims due to the inherent emotional risks that a victim is willing to take. And this isn’t a small scam: in fact, in 2018, the IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) received reports from 18,000 people who claimed to have become victims of confidence/romance fraud. The aggregate losses reached $362 million – an increase of more than 70 percent from 2017.
The following are warning signs that you’re being targeted in a money mule scam:
No matter the red flags you see, the FBI advises that you NEVER:
Do you suspect you’ve been targeted by a criminal for assistance with illegal activities?
If you think you’ve been scammed, there’s no reason to be embarrassed— this scam takes advantage of your trust and willingness to help. But it’s important to take steps to limit damage and make sure the scam is reported
It can be difficult to say no to someone you trust, but knowing the signs of this scam and how to react can save you a lot of heartbreak.
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Routing Number: 307070050
6440 Gibson Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
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