FRAUD ALERT:

PEFCU CHECKS USED IN SWEEPSTAKES SCAM

14 July 2008 10:45 a.m. Eastern
Nicole Thompson

Scams come in all forms. One common scam involves contacting an individual with a story that he or she has won a lottery or sweepstakes and giving the person a counterfeit check. If you are contacted about winning a lottery or sweepstakes, be cautious—especially if you did not enter one yourself. If you receive a check from an unknown source, have it checked for authenticity before you cash it. This extra step will save you money and the hassle of rectifying the situation.

A current scam involves checks that appear to be drawn from Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU). JBJ Financial has issued false cashier's checks in the approximate amount of $3,800 that look like legitimate PEFCU checks. The checks are accompanied by a letter regarding winning a $500,000 lump sum payout from a sweepstakes. The letter asks the recipient to call a phone number and wire funds back to JBJ Financial in order to receive the lump sum payout.

Anyone who receives a questionable check should contact Danna Puterbaugh in the PEFCU Risk Department at 765.497.3328 or 800.627.3328 for an analysis.