ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new character to help credit unions better prevent plastic card fraud has appeared on the scene.

I.M. Fraud, a business-suited character wearing a Hawaiian flower lei and scuba flippers and carrying golf clubs, is meant to introduce fraud prevention techniques in a humorous and easily accessible way.

The character is a creation of Card Services for Credit Unions, an association of credit unions that process plastic card transactions with Fidelity National Information Services

“We know that plastic card fraud is a growing concern, but we also know that fraud is manageable and that credit cards are still the highest ROA loan opportunity for credit unions,” stated Robert Hackney, CSCU president. “It's not about making light of a serious situation, but rather about giving fraud an identity that encourages credit unions to tackle today's challenges head on. Not only does I.M. Fraud embody the many forms fraud can take, he creates a lasting impression in a non-threatening manner.”

Five hundred credit unions that learned the latest in plastic card fraud prevention techniques at a series of online card fraud prevention seminars hosted by Card Services for Credit Unions have received a small statue of I.M. Fraud, their fictional nemesis from the series as part of the follow up from the educational series.