ARECU monitors debit, credit card fraud to protect accounts

The Alabama Rural Electric Credit Union (ARECU) is aware of an unusual amount of credit and debit card fraud occurring nationwide. The credit union has a system that constantly records a user’s spending pattern; when a charge shows up on an account that is out of the usual pattern, it is reported as a possible fraud.

Most of these alerts don’t represent significant events, but they do allow the credit union to proactively tailor fraud-fighting strategies to curtail possible losses.

There are many safeguards in place to prevent a breach of account information, but criminals have gotten better at hacking and breaching card processors’ information, so all fraud can’t be prevented.

ARECU is in the process of switching to new cards that feature chip technology, but such a move won’t prevent all fraud if there’s a breach in a network processor. Such breaches are affecting ARECU as well as other credit unions and banks. To date, ARECU has not been breached; all of its fraud has stemmed from various VISA network processors.

If you have any questions regarding fraudulent charges or about the procedures ARECU uses to protect against fraud, call 334-215-7328 or 800-381-7328.