Fraud Protection

The recent surge in scam attempts isn’t new—but it’s becoming harder to ignore.

It seems like every time we check our phones these days, there’s another suspicious text, voicemail, or call. Maybe you’ve gotten a text claiming you owe a toll fee, or a voicemail telling you you’ve been approved for a loan you never applied for. These scams are becoming more frequent — and more convincing — and let’s be real more annoying!

These...

HOW TO GUIDE: STAYING SAFE FROM AI SCAMS

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live, work, and manage our finances. While AI has many benefits, scammers are also using this technology to create more convincing and sophisticated fraud schemes.

As your trusted credit union, we want to ensure you know how to protect yourself. Follow this step-by-step guide to stay safe!

Step 1: Recognize the Most Common AI Scams

Hook, Line, and Sinker: How to Avoid Phishing and Smishing Scams

Today, we're diving into the treacherous waters of phishing and smishing scams. First, what is phishing and smishing?

Phishing: the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages claiming to be from reputable companies in order to persuade individuals to reveal personal information, such as login credentials and credit card numbers.

Smishing: the fraudulent...

Checklist to Protect Yourself & Your Information

With each passing month, our fraud department sees more fraud and scams that negatively impact members and their money. While we try to constantly remind members to watch their account statements and take ownership of personal cyber security, it’s not always easy to spot a scam before it happens.

We’ve put together a simple checklist of items to help protect yourself and your information all year...

Trending Scams: BIG RETAILER FRAUDSTERS ON THE RISE

Fraud and Scams continue to cost consumers millions and millions of dollars, every day. As a way to help educate members and prevent you from falling victim to these scams, we are providing this blog to illustrate the latest trends and tendencies that we see members fall victim to.

Fake Retailer Scams

This scheme isn’t something new, but one we’ve...

With cryptocurrency on the rise, there were bound to be scams that popped up regarding this topic eventually, and they are definitely here. In this newest scam, scammers ask people to pay with cryptocurrency.

How it works: you may get a call from someone pretending to be from the government, law enforcement, or a local utility company (a common imposter scam red flag). Or, maybe you fall for a romantic relationship online, or someone calls to say you’ve won the...

As the holidays approach, scammers and fraudsters kick their efforts into overdrive. They like to prey on the giving spirit of the season and if you’re not careful, you could take a bigger financial hit than what you plan on spending on your holiday shopping list. Familiarize yourself with a few of the top holiday scams that pop up every year around this time and how to avoid them:

Gift Card Scams

The Gift Card Scam is one of the most...

When it comes to unknown numbers calling your home or mobile device, most of us just let it go to voicemail to see if it’s a legitimate call or a possible scam call. We want to remind you of the best practices to keep you, and your financial and/or personal information safe.

If something seems too good to be true, it may be. Recognizing the following red flags may help you avoid falling victim to fraud or a scam:

Although many of us take vacations or breaks through the Summer season, fraudsters work all year long. During the Summer months, there are some specific scams to watch for along with typical scams we see all year long.

The Home Repair Scam

This time of year, home improvements seem to take over. In some cases, those home improvements start with or include a repair person…and fraudsters know this. This type of scheme typically begins with...

The romance scam is one of the most common scams that we see at the credit union, but at times, is one of the most difficult to convince members that they are falling victim to. Millions of people each year turn to dating sites or social media to meet people. Don’t feel embarrassed if this hits home. Rather, consider evaluating red flags if this story sounds all-too-familiar.

There are a few red flags you will quickly notice if you’re involved in a romance...