BREWER FCU Quarterly News Winter 2017

President’s CornerWinter has arrived, and all of us here at Brewer FCU hope you enjoyed a great holiday season! But don’t let the snow and cold weather slow you down. Your Credit Union is here with products and services that will help make winter fun and financially rewarding. We’re still offering our Winter Rescue Loan, a low APR loan to help with post-holiday bills, filling the oil tank, or maybe even a warm weather vacation. Do you prefer the great Maine outdoors this time of year? Then talk to us about financing options for ATVs and snowmobiles, or maybe a new 4 wheel drive vehicle. Whatever your plans are for the season, let Brewer FCU help make them a reality!

Your Credit Union has started issuing debit cards using EMV chip technology. Your new cards will include an embedded chip that greatly increases your security when using your card at merchant terminals. A new card should arrive prior to your expiration date listed on your current card. If you have any questions on how to use your new card, or would like to discuss how the new technology will help keep your account more secure, please contact our card services department.

Also remember that your mobile app is there for you around the clock. You can use your app to transfer money, make a loan payment, send someone money, and even deposit a check with our Remote Deposit feature. Talk to a Member Service Representative today if you’d like to enroll or have any questions.

As always, please remember that we are member-owned, so contact me any time with questions, concerns, or anything else you would like to discuss regarding your Credit Union.

Sincerely,Dave DeFroscia President / CEO

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Have a GreatWinter!

Elder fraud: Spotting it, stopping it, preventing itEvery day, at least 1,000 elderly Americans are financially exploited or abused. If one of them is your parent, another relative, or a close friend, you can—and should—do something about it. Here’s what we suggest.What exactly is elder fraud?

It’s the illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property or assets, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse (part of the U.S. Administration on Aging). Among the most common financial abuses:• Cashing an older person’s checks without permission• Forging their signature• Misusing or stealing their money or possessions• Coercing or deceiving them into signing any document (e.g., contracts or a will)

Who’s behind it? “Elder fraud” may make you think of Internet schemes (“I’m a widow in Nigeria who needs to claim an inheritance…”) or telephone scams (“Hi, Grandma? I’m in jail down here in Mexico…”). “Scams and other forms of fraud committed by strangers certainly exist,” agrees Kathy Greenlee, former Assistant Secretary for Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “But unfortunately, the vast majority of elder abuse cases—about 90%—are perpetrated by family members, most often adult children and spouses, or by lawyers, bankers, financial advisors and other professionals trusted by the elder.”

How to spot it

Any of these 10 signs may indicate financial exploitation:1. Sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the elder2. Names added to an elder’s bank signature card3. Unauthorized withdrawal of funds using the elder’s ATM card4. Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents5. Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions6. Substandard care being provided or bills unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources7. Discovery of an elder’s signature being forged for financial transactions or for the titles of his/her possessions8. Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to an elder’s affairs and possessions9. Unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family10. Provision of unnecessary services

How to stop it

Report it. If someone is in actual danger, call 911. Otherwise, contact the local Adult Protective Services, your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman if the person lives in a nursing home or similar facility, or police. In most states, elder abuse can be reported anonymously. You don’t have to provide proof; the authorities will investigate your concerns.

Holiday Closings

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 16

President’s Day Monday. February 20

Brewer FCU Board MembersRichard Whitmore – ChairmanMichael Nelligan – Vice Chairman Mark Gray – Treasurer Dani O’Halloran – Secretary Denise D’Amboise – Director Craig Bailey – Director Robert Sparks – Director

Carol McLaughlin – Supervisory Committee ChairPatricia Wilking – Supervisory Committee Peter Lyford – Supervisory Committee

Employee AnniversariesBridget .......................... 18 years Sean ................................ 7 years Lee ................................ 14 years Mary ............................... 2 years Will .............................. 12 years

Part-Time Alexis ...............................1 year

How to prevent it

An older person you know could be vulnerable to financial fraud if they fit all or part of this profile:• Need a caregiver because of disabilities or cognitive decline• Are widowed or socially isolated• Don’t feel confident making financial decisions alone• Find bill-paying “confusing” • Often receive calls, emails, or mailings asking for money

First, try to educate the elder about potential fraud by strangers, as well as by someone close to them. (You’ll find many informative resources at https://www.stopfraud.gov/protect-yourself.html.) Visit regularly. Do you notice bills piling up, outgoing mail with an unusual address, or the frequent presence of someone new? If so, find out more. Volunteer to help with the bills. You might also share your concerns quietly with the older person’s branch manager.If things are serious, you may need a legal power of attorney, which gives you the older person’s permission to act for them in certain matters. The last resort is to apply for guardianship or conservatorship, a process requiring proof that an elder can no longer manage their own affairs.Take a stand! “Financial exploitation is the most frequent form of elder abuse, and it’s only going to get worse until we all become part of the solution,” says Greenlee. “We are at a time of great opportunity to stem the tide.” Let’s do it!

How to talk with someone you love about avoiding financial abuseTaking steps to protect a parent or older relative against financial fraud isn’t always easy. Since money isn’t openly discussed in many families, both parties may feel awkward addressing the subject.

An older person who is sensitive about declining abilities may also fear where the conversation could lead: What will happen to me? Will I be able to stay in my own home? Will someone I trust take away my money? If they’ve been defrauded, they’re apt to feel embarrassed and react with defensive anger if you ask for details. And you may feel uncomfortable too: Will it look like I’m worried about my inheritance? Will they think I’m trying to control them?

To keep channels open, what’s needed is empathy, lots of it. Offer honest compliments about what the person has been doing well (“You’re so generous and kind, with all the things you do around town,” or “I’m proud of you, Mom. I know it can’t have been easy since Dad died”). Ask how things are going. Are they keeping up with the bills all right? Are they being pressed to do anything unusual with their money? Is there any way you can help?

Your offer to lend a hand may be motivated by your sincere concern for their welfare, but it may look like a red flag to parents who dread giving up control of their own affairs. Be tactful, and respect their dignity. One day you, too, may be in their shoes.

Sources:• Personal interview with Kathy Greenlee, August 2014• Veronica Dagher, “If an Elderly Parent Has Been

Scammed,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/13/16• “Elder Abuse Facts,” National Council on Aging,

undated, accessed 11/30/16 (https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/elder-justice/elder-abuse-facts/)

• National Center on Elder Abuse, accessed 11/30/16 (https://ncea.acl.gov/)

1.) To install this FREE App, go to the Apple APP Store, or Google Play/Market, and search for “Brewer Federal Credit Union”

2.) For an Andriod, tap the Apps icon in the bot tom-right of the home screen. Swipe left and right until you find the Play Store icon. Tap it. The first time you tap here, you may be prompted to sign in with your Google credentials and payment information. It will also prompt you to allow back up of apps to your Google account, and require you to accept the terms and conditions. Once you're within Google Play, you can search for a specific app or browse through larger categories.

For an iPhone, click on App Store icon, search for the mobile app, and click the little cloud with a downward arrow. If you need to enter in your apple ID, do so when prompted, otherwise, the app will begin to download.

3.) Open the App, before you can login, you must create a user ID. At bottom of app, click "User Settings>type in username>hit + sign.

4.) Your username will automatically fill in. You will need to use your 'online banking' password. If you do not have this, please email use at memberservices@brewerfcu.org so we can assist you.

5.) Once you have your password, you will be able to use all the functinos of the mobile app without any problems. You can even save your password by sliding the little 'save password' button to the right.

Visit the Apple® APP Store or the Android Market to download the Brewer FCU Mobile APP for your smartphone.

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Office Hours and Locations 77 North Main Street · Brewer 229 Dirigo Drive · Brewer Mailing Address PO Box 189 · Brewer, ME 04412

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Email Address memberservices@brewerfcu.org

Phone & Fax Numbers Phone (207) 989-7240 77 No. Main Street · Fax: 989-3440 229 Dirigo Drive · Fax: 989-5985

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Maine’s Credit Unions Are Helping Members Protect Their Accounts From Skimming

The issue of skimming and its impact on one’s card security is a source of local and national concern. Skimming is a growing problem, and one that Maine’s credit unions take very seriously. In light of the skimming devices found over the summer at ATM terminals of local financial institutions, Maine’s credit unions have served as a resource to the public to ensure that more of the state’s residents do not fall victim to skimming.Know the warning signs - follow these tips to protect your accounts:Skimming can occur at ATM machines and other point-of-sale locations. A skimmer is a device that is used to capture card data that can then be transferred to another card to perform fraudulent activity. Skimmers are typically placed in areas where there is low visibility. Often times they are placed at ATM terminals, gas pumps and sometimes used by individuals at merchant locations, including restaurants and taxis. In an effort to protect against card theft, Maine’s credit unions are instructing their members and the general public to be aware of their surroundings by examining ATM terminals closely. In many of the recent cases, hackers were able to capture PIN numbers from cameras installed at ATM terminals. Here are some tips to follow: • Keep your fingers covered as you enter your information. • Do not rely on the look and feel of an ATM alone, as it is often impossible

to detect skimming devices with the naked eye. Keep a close eye on your accounts for any suspicious or unauthorized activity.

• If spotted, contact your credit union to report the fraudulent activity. Your financial institution will then determine what steps need to be taken in order to recover losses and prevent additional losses.

Despite the events that occurred earlier this year, the state’s credit union members can be rest assured that Maine’s credit unions are monitoring the issue closely. By remaining vigilant and taking extra security precautions, Maine’s financial institutions are staying ahead of the hackers in many cases. As skimming technology continues to evolve, it is important that financial institutions and their members continue to work together to monitor and report any fraudulent activity in order to protect themselves from falling victim to skimming.