Valley Oak Credit Union dealing with debit-card breach

Valley Oak Credit Union, based in Three Rivers, is alerting its members of an apparent breach of debit cards after customers reported finding fraudulent transactions on their checking accounts.

As of midday Monday, “we’re into the dozens” of members who have complained to the credit union, CEO Alan Cortum said. “At this point, we’re not sure how many people have been affected. We’re working through the process to take the reports, blocking those cards and reissuing new cards to members.”

The credit union, which also has branches in Visalia and Tulare, has about 7,000 members. About 2,500 of them have checking accounts with debit cards that could potentially be affected.

Cortum said the fraud “appears to be (by) an outside entity, and appears to have started somewhere in Mexico.”

Cortum said that Valley Oak has yet to issue debit cards that are embedded with electronic security chips. Its credit cards, however, do have EMV chips that are intended to reduce opportunities for fraud through counterfeit cards.

Valley Oak members are being encouraged by the credit union to closely examine activity on their accounts to see if there are any suspicious charges or transactions. To report possible debit card fraud on their accounts, members are asked to call 800-262-2024.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Valley Oak Credit Union dealing with debit-card breach."