Kitsap Credit Union members targeted in scam

Kitsap Credit Union members were alarmed Monday night and Tuesday morning by what appears to be a wide-scale text or phishing scam.

Several customers were contacted with a text that included the following message: "Hello! Please call 407-614-3803. Your attention is required by Kitsap CU!"

Mark Hughes, a supervisor in the KCU marketing department, said that many members noticed the strange area code and know that the credit union would never ask for information via email or text.

"Unfortunately, phishing happens everyday in the financial environment," Hughes said. "This one was just a little bit bigger and it all hit at the same time. The only real way to fight scams like this is to keep our members informed.

"Hughes said that the credit union's security was never breached and that funds and member privacy were never at risk. The scam targeted Verizon customers throughout the area, not just KCU members.

When KCU members attempted to call the credit union directly on Tuesday morning, it essentially crashed the phone system. The KCU website began updating its webpage a short time later.

"Some of our members are reporting a text message or email phishing scam. Kitsap Credit Union will never solicit personal information electronically. More information coming soon," read an info box at the top of the home page. "Because of the reports of electronic phishing we are experiencing higher than normal call volume. We are able to receive only a limited number of calls at this time. We remain diligent in working to resolve these issues."

The 407 area code surrounds Orlando, Florida, and also includes all of Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, as well as small portions of Volusia and Lake counties. Give or take, that's about 3,000 miles from KCU's headquarters in downtown Bremerton.

Contact Bremerton Patriot Staff writer Kevan Moore at kmoore@bremertonpatriot.com or 360-308-9161 ext. 5054.

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