Security Center

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Are you a fraud fighter?

Take our quiz by Nov. 22 to find out and be entered to win a Wilderness at the Smokies gift card!*

Let's Go

*Terms and conditions apply. View official rules here.

ARE YOU BEING SCAMMED?

Ask yourself these questions:


QUESTION 1

Is someone asking for my personal information? 

Spoiler- it's probably a fraudster.

Examples include:

Usernames and passwords
Credit and debit card information
Six-digit authentication codes

Cell phone with fraud call conversation



QUESTION 2

Is someone asking me to pay for something unexpected? 

Hold your horses! It could be fraud.

Examples include:

Fees for claiming a prize
Unsolicited subscriptions
Phony services

Cell phone with fraud text message



QUESTION 3

Do I feel pressured or urged to take action? 

Wait up! Confirm before you act.

Examples include:

Needs of immediate action
Threats of consequences
Emergency scenarios

Cell phone with fraud email

HAVE YOU BEEN SCAMMED?

What to do next:

If you believe a scammer has your sensitive information like your Social Security number or bank account number, go to IdentityTheft.gov for next steps.

Monitor and potentially freeze your credit with the credit bureaus.

Freeze and report any compromised card in Digital Banking. Here's How

Reach out to us at 800-482-1043 to report the scam.

If you lost money, file a police report.

Change any compromised username and password. Implement multifactor authentication if your credentials were shared.

Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-HELP) and the to the Internet Crime Complain Center (ic3.gov).

 

WORDS TO KNOW

Social Engineering 

The use of manipulation by a fraudster to trick people into making mistakes or giving away sensitive information.


WORDS TO KNOW

Spoof / Spoofing

A fraudster’s method of deliberately falsifying information of a caller ID display to disguise their identity and pretend to be another entity.


WORDS TO KNOW

Phish / Phishing

A fraudster’s method of impersonating an official entity or to trick the victim into giving out personal information.


WORDS TO KNOW

Smish / Smishing

A fraudster’s method of impersonating an official entity in the form of text messaging.


WORDS TO KNOW

Vish / Vishing

A fraudster’s method of impersonating an official entity by making phone calls or leaving voice messages.


WORDS TO KNOW

Clickbait

A story or link designed to attract a reader’s attention and entice them to click on it.


WORDS TO KNOW

Malware

A malicious software that fraudsters use to damage or disrupt a computer to steal data or compromise networks.


WORDS TO KNOW

Skimmer

A device typically placed on or around a card reader to capture data from the card.

CAN YOU RECOGNIZE A SCAM?

Spot The Red Flags:

PHISHING FRAUD

Emails, Texts, & Calls 

  • Phishing emails, messages, and texts often have unnatural or illogical writing with mistakes.
  • We will NEVER ask for sensitive information, including your card number, PIN, or three-digit CVV code. Also, we will never ask for any digital banking passwords or codes texted to your phone.
  • Demands for urgent actions are red flags. Never reply with personal information like your password, PIN, or social security number.


PERSONA FRAUD

Online & Social Media 

  • Guilt-tripping, creating an intense sense of urgency, and gaslighting are all manipulation tactics used by fraudsters. 
  • Fraudulent online contests often have a promise of prize money for winning. If it's too good to be true, it's probably a fraud.
  • Fraudsters will often coerce victims into payment transactions and requirements.


PERSON-TO-PERSON FRAUD

Payment & Marketplace Apps 

  • Fraudsters often use payment apps to "accidentally" send money and ask you to send the money back. Unfortunately, they most likely never sent the money at all.
  • Fraudsters may impersonate financial institutions and alert you about "suspicious activity" on your account. They will then ask you to send money to the provided address to verify the account is not frozen.
  • When using online marketplace platforms, scammers often try to influence you to perform a specific action, like texting a code to verify your identity. It's good practice to keep payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or CashApp for friends and family only. 

CAN YOU PREVENT SCAMS?

Top Tips & Tricks:

Printable Guide

Icon of cell phone ringingWhen in doubt, reach out.
Fraudsters impersonate merchants, financial institutions, and more. If unsure, end the communication to verify the source. Then, call us at (800) 482-1043 to report an incident, and log into your account to review your transactions and activity. 

Pause symbol iconPause and think if you receive a weird link.
Only click on links or open attachments if you know who sent them and what they are.
 
Icon of a fraudsterFraudsters are tricky, so be very picky.
Never give personal or financial information to an unknown caller. A fraudster may request payments by gift card, wire transfer, Venmo, Cash App, or another payment service.
 
Fish iconIf account info's the wish, it's probably a phish.
We will NEVER request sensitive information, including your digital banking passwords, authentication codes, and card information, such as the card number, PIN, or three-digit CVV code. We will also not ask for any codes texted to your phone.
 


Popular Scams:

PHONE CALLS/TEXTS

Impersonation 

  • The fraudster spoofs our phone number and pretends to be an employee of the Credit Union to solicit funds or sensitive information.


DATING SITES/APPS

Romance 

  • The fraudster uses a fake persona in the form of a love interest to request money using manipulation tactics.


MARKET SITES/APPS

Seller/Buyer 

  • The fraudster presents as an average seller/buyer but tries to change the exchange, such as altering the price, having issues with payment methods, and using different communication platforms. 


SOCIAL MEDIA

Contest 

  • This scam promises prize money for answering a question correctly. The fraudster reaches out for a prize payment method, usually through a person-to-person platform, and "accidentally" sends a higher amount but then requests the difference back.


EMAILS/TEXTS

Employment 

  • Employment scams usually present as a remote position or independent contract that promises lucrative pay. The fraudster may ask you for training payments or sensitive information.