What's New
Indian Head Branch Corn Roast Raises $215 For AJM Davies Arena Lift Fund
It was another great turn out for customer appreciation day in Indian Head. The residents of this gorgeous community were served many delicious eats, served by the businesses in the community. As usual our Indian Head branch contributed in thanking the customers by doing a Corn Roast. This year the branch decided to give back to the community in another way by charging $1 for a cob and having all the proceeds go to the AJM Davies Arena Lift Fund, raising $215 in total. We would like to thank the members of the Credit Union and all the residents of Indian Head for coming out and we look forward to serving you each and everyday.
Montmartre Branch Helps Raise over $1500 for the local Cadets Club
Hundreds of people came out to help the Montmartre Branch of Plainsview Credit Union celebrate their 70th Anniversary. To celebrate 70 years of proudly serving the members of Montmartre and surrounding area, the branch staff hosted a huge outdoor movie event on August 25th, with a special showing of Cars 2. Fortunately, Mother Nature supported the event with gorgeous weather, and the community supported the event with a huge turnout. The staff and management of the credit union, wish to express their appreciation to all who were able to come out and celebrate that evening, and for the opportunity they have been given to serve the community all these years.
While 70 years is a huge milestone for the credit union to celebrate, local staff member Bonnie Englot commented that their branch wanted to do more: “Giving back to our community is what our credit union is all about, so we felt it was important to celebrate our anniversary in a way that demonstrated our commitment to our community.” To that end, the branch invited the local Cadets Club to get involved. While no admission was charged for the movie event; donations to the Cadet Club were graciously accepted. As well, the Cadet Club worked hard to organize and run a concession booth that many in attendance enjoyed. Through donations collected and proceeds from the concession, over $1500 was raised for the local Cadets Club. The credit union was proud to be able to offer this opportunity to the local cadets and help them in their fundraising efforts.
Qu'Appelle Branch hosts Outdoor Movie Event
On Saturday August 13th, Qu'Appelle Branch celebrated their 25th Anniversary with an outdoor movie event. For a silver change donation to the community centre, members were invited to an outdoor showing of HOP. The Community Centre made about $250 which they were please with. Special thanks to everyone who was able to attend and to the staff for all of their hard work in making this event a success!
Plainsview Credit Union, Staff, Directors and Members contribute $2756.00 to the Horn of Africa Famine Relief – Co-operatively we can make a difference!
The Staff at the Glenavon branch of Plainsview Credit Union decided take action to help feed the underprivileged. We have so much it’s hard to imagine that there are places that have so little and this was a natural fit into our Co-operative Philosophy. Together we raised $1378.00 and with the matching contributions of the Government, we made a difference of $2756.00.
Our staff is here to provide financial advice to help our membership secure their futures however we are also about more than that. Our staff wanted to help out and what better way than to raise funds and double those funds – all contributions made to this effort will be matched by the Government until Sept. 16th. So if you would like to join us in our efforts, donations can be made at any branch of Plainsview Credit Union.
Jack Layton: Let Us Be Loving, Hopeful, and Optimistic. And We’ll Change The World.
Our own Charmaine Tweet is Featured in the LeaderPost
Charmaine Tweet, a Deposit Specialist in Indian Head, was recently featured in the LeadPost for her acheivements in kickboxing...and Plainsview couldn't be more proud of her; she puts in a lot of long hours and hard work to make her kickboxing career a success! Click here to read the article.
Thank-you from Kordell
Plainsview Credit Union is committed to supporting our youth members; one of the many ways we demonstrate that committment is to sponsor student members to attend the Saskatchewan Co-operative Youth Program Camp; an excellent opportunity for youth to learn what co-operatives are, and why they are important. This year we were proud to sponsor Kordell Allan-Bencharski, and this is what he had to say about his experience:
Hi, my name is Kordell Allan-Bencharski. I am writing this letter to tell you how good of a time I had at the Saskatchewan Co-operative Youth Program Camp this summer which I attended from July 9-14. It is an amazing experience that I want other kids to have the opportunity to experience as well.
We learned a lot about co-operatives and leadership. Some co-operatives we have within our camp are our committees and color groups. Color groups were groups we formed to get shores done faster and do other activities.I had lots of fun going to the beach, meeting new people, and hanging out. I am very excited to hopefully go next year, as long as you decide to sponsor me again. I hope you do. Thank you for sponsoring me this year.Co-operatively yours,Kordell
Mercer Fearless Forecast 2011: modest growth, solid returns
With the new year upon us, everyone looks at their portfolio to see what it has done and try and determine what it will do in the coming year. Economists from all sectors feel compelled to make a prediction based on their read of the economy and the signals it is sending. Most then link their forecast to a hot fund or two their firm is selling in hopes of generating greater sales during the RSP season.
Simple Steps to Keep Your Computer Secure
To keep your computer free from damaging malware, we recommend diligent use of the following computer and online security practices:
Ensure your computing system has an up-to-date firewall to prevent others from accessing your computer and your information through the internet.
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Always ensure your firewall is enabled and up-to-date.
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Ensure your anti-virus software is enabled and configured to run daily updates and regular virus scans.
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Anti-spyware software can remove and detect spyware, but is most effective when combined with a firewall and anti-virus software. Ensure your anti-spyware is enabled and configured to run daily updates and regular scans.
- Use a unique password for each login ID.
- Disable the web browser "auto complete" function of your login IDs or passwords to prevent others using your computer from having instant access.
- Change your password regularly, especially if you might suspect it has been guessed or seen by someone else.
- Do not open unsolicited or unfamiliar email – spam often contains damaging software.
- Do not click on links within unsolicited email – the link may take you to a counterfeit website that will solicit your personal and financial information – this scam is known as ‘phishing’.
- Do not click on pop-ups windows that say "you're a winner if you click here" – these can lead to spyware and malware downloads.
- Be wary of ‘freeware’ or free services online – even innocent looking screen savers, fun cursors and Internet pets can be contain hidden malware.
- Verify the legitimacy of free software, tools and online services before you use them – research the product, tool or vendor in your search engine and scan the results.
- Always carefully read licensing agreements and privacy agreements prior to installing software.
- Avoid conducting online banking transactions at ‘hotspot’ (high risk) locations such as internet cafés and libraries.
- Do not forget to log off and close your browser.
For more information on computer and internet safety and on avoid other kinds of fraud, please visit the RCMP's tips page or Phonebusters.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone takes information about you and pretends to be you for fraudulent purposes. If you are a victim, the consequences are serious – you can be denied a driver’s licence, a student loan, cell phone service. It can take years to undo the damage.
- Be defensive with personal information. Give out as little information about you as possible and only when you initiated the contact. If you are being asked for your birthdate, real email address, or other details - ask why. Don’t provide it if you don’t have to. If you are on a site that requests personal or financial information, make sure it’s secure by looking for ‘https’ in the address bar (‘s’ stands for secure) and a padlock icon. Don’t ever send your information in an email.
- Create strong passwords and keep them secret. Your first line of defence in the virtual world begins with your password or your personal identification number (PIN). Don’t use your girl/boyfriend’s name, your pet’s name, or your phone number. Passwords should have at least eight characters; include a combination of letters, numbers and symbols like #, $, %, !, and be easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
- Improve your computer's security. Greatly reduce your risk from hackers, viruses and worms by using a firewall, installing antivirus and antispyware software and updating it routinely, and keeping your operating system software up to date.
- Be ultra-careful with your Social Insurance Number (SIN). It’s an important key to your identity, especially in credit reports and computer databases. Know how your personal information will be used. Ask if you don’t.
Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are great for keeping in touch with friends, but can also be a goldmine for identity thieves. Using information you provide about yourself, fraudsters can potentially take on your identity.
- Read and understand the privacy policies to understand what happens to your personal information and your privacy options.
- Use the privacy controls available. Sites like Facebook provide you with some level of control over your personal information. For instance, you can restrict who can see your full profile and photos of you, and who can find you in a search. You can also hide your list of friends from people who find you through a search.
- Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know in real life. Online, how do you know they are who they say they are?
- Be discreet about what you post online. Think about what information you’re putting out there, and the implications of it. A photo of you and your friends hanging out, for instance, could reveal a lot – like where you live, where you go to school, or the car you drive.
The following information was obtained from Equifax and Trans Union. For more information visit their websites at: www.equifax.com/home/en_ca and www.transunion.ca.
- Do not carry your extra credit cards, birth certificate, SIN card or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary. This practice minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal in the case of a lost wallet/purse.
- Do not discard pre-approved credit offers in your trash or recycling bin without first tearing them into small pieces or cross-cut shredding them. Dumpster divers can use these offers to order credit cards in your name and mail them to their address. Always do the same with other sensitive information like credit card receipts and phone bills.
- Install a lockable mailbox or, even better, a door mail slot at your residence to reduce mail theft.
- Know your statement cycle dates and follow up for late or missing mail.
- Monitor your credit report on a regular basis to identify unauthorized changes or inquiries that you are unaware of.
- Never leave your purse or wallet unattended at work or in church, restaurants, health fitness clubs, parties or shopping carts. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when your car is locked.
- Limit the number of credit cards you have and cancel any inactive accounts.
- Memorize your passwords so you do not have to write them down.
- Always save your credit card receipts, never leave them behind.
- Only provide your ID and credit card information over the phone to reputable companies when you have initiated the call and are certain you are speaking to the legitimate company.
- If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent your credit card issuer and the caller asks for your account number, do not provide it - if the caller is employed by the issuer, they will already know your account information.
- If your Social Insurance Card is lost or stolen, contact your local Human Resources Development (HRDC) office immediately.
- If your Driver's License is lost or stolen, contact your local driver and vehicle license issuing office and report it to your local police station.
- Keep statements in a safe place - they contain sensitive and personal information.
- Keep a list of all your accounts in a secure place. This makes it easy to quickly call the issuers to inform them about compromised personal information. Include telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments.
- Avoid credit repair scams. If you are tempted to contact a credit repair company for help, use considerable caution. Only inaccurate information may be removed from your credit report; negative information that is accurate (such as a bankruptcy filing or a defaulted loan) will stay on your credit report as long as governing laws allow.
‘Phishing’ for Your Dollars
Phishing is a reality on the Internet that simply will not go away. New types of threats are emerging on a regular basis. Being ‘net smart’ has never been more important. Smart consumers need to be able to identify and avoid Internet fraud and identity theft.
Phishing, also call brand spoofing, is a form of Internet fraud in which e-mail messages are used to lure the unsuspecting to web sites that are replicas of sites used by legitimate businesses. These web sites are used to trick users into divulging credit card numbers, bank account information, and passwords that will be used to commit fraud.
Phishing attacks normally are initiated through an e-mail. It will come disguised as a message from your financial institution or a familiar Internet merchant. Even though the message looks legitimate, it may not be.
How can one tell the real thing from the fake? Here are some things to look for:
- WARNING SIGN #1: Soliciting Personal Information by E-Mail
Financial institutions and reputable on-line retailers do not send e-mails asking for personal information. Any e-mail that claims to be from a reputable source but asks for such data is most likely a phishing expedition.
- WARNING SIGN #2: Badly Written E-Mail
Read the message closely. A professional company such as e-Bay or Amazon will not issue any communication containing basic grammatical and spelling errors. A high proportion of phishing e-mails contain such fundamental errors. For example, or Amazon will not issue any communication containing basic grammatical and spelling errors. A high proportion of phishing e-mails contain such fundamental errors. For example,
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WARNING SIGN #3: Hidden Addresses & Sources
Phishing attacks redirect you somewhere other than where they claim to be going. Check to see if the web site you reach by clicking on the address in the e-mail is the same as the one shown in the e-mail. If it isn’t, leave the site immediately. Look at the name of the web site shown in the e-mail. Reputable on-line businesses ensure that all their customer accessible web sites contain the company’s name in the address. If you don’t see that, you probably haven’t reached the real web site.
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WARNING SIGN #4: Asking for Personal DataReceiving an e-mail from your financial institution asking you to go to their web site should set the alarm bells ringing. That is not normal business practice for any credit union or bank. Don’t click on the web address in the e-mail. Call your financial institution to confirm if they have sent you a message.
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WARNING SIGN #5: Threatening Legal Sounding MessagesConsider the source. Would you expect your favorite on-line retailer to send a threatening notice? Not likely. If you receive a threatening e-mail, it probably isn’t legitimate. If you think it may be, call the company instead of responding to the e-mail.
Take Action
The simplest way to protect yourself from phishers is to avoid clicking on any unexpected link in an e-mail message. Do not reply to e-mails soliciting personal information. Having safely ignored the suspicious e-mail, report it.
A significant proportion of on-line fraud goes unreported. Some people are too embarrassed to admit they’ve been taken in. Others simply don’t know what to do.
If you do spot something suspicious, go to the company’s real web site – the one that looks like www.companyname.com. Most sites have an option on their home page labeled “Contact Us” or something similar. Use that to report the phishing attempt. If you have gone so far as to provide sensitive personal information before realizing you may be a phishing victim, report the matter to your local police and keep a copy of the police report. You may need that documentation to resolve any fraudulent transactions.
Go on-line to www.recol.ca[1], the web site for Reporting Economic Crime On-Line. This site is administered by the National White Collar Crime Centre of Canada and is supported by the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies. You can also call, toll-free to PhoneBusters[2], the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Center at 1-800-495-8501 or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Center at 1-800-495-8501.
Put Your Knowledge to the Test
Think you’re ready to avoid the phishers trying toseparate your from your money? Take the anti-phishing challenge by going to http://survey.mailfrontier.com/survey/Phishing_uk.html
Protect your identity!