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Frauds & Scams

 

As the digital era grows, so do cyber-threats that aim to trick consumers to fall for scams. It is important to make sure the devices you use are secure, especially when dealing with sensitive information like your banking account. Don’t skip out on virus protection, software updates, and additional verification steps but most importantly, don’t open files from an untrustworthy source.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Never provide your personal information, account details or home/mobile banking credentials to anyone via phone, text, or email. 

  • Shred all documents with sensitive information before throwing away.

  • Review your credit score annually at www.annualcreditreport.com

  • Create strong passwords for all your online logins.

  • Ensure your anti-virus software is updated regularly on all devices

  • Never use public wi-fi, secure or not, to login into any accounts with sensitive information

  • Do not open links from unknow senders

 

A glance at the most common types of scams:

  • PHISHING: is when scammer attempt to obtain personal information under false pretenses via phone calls, emails or text messages.  Phishing scams often portray an urgent situation.  Emails and text message often contain links that may compromise your devices.

    Emails and text messages are used to steal passwords, social security numbers or account numbers.  Once this information is obtained scammers can get access to your accounts. River City Federal Credit Union uses email and text to alert you of possible fraudulent transactions; however, we will NEVER ask for personal information.  To learn more abut Phishing Attacks visit the FTC website.

  • EMPLOYMENT & ROMANCE SCAM: is when scammers acting to be potential employers or love interest are attempting to take advantage of you.  Scammers create fake adds or dating profiles to lure victims into giving them personal information or money.

    Scammers in romance scams sometimes take several days to weeks to facilitate the scam.  The scammer will gain your trust and then help to pay for medical expenses for them or family or ask to send money so they can travel to visit.  They will usually tell you how to pay in a way that is quick but hard to get it back like Western Union, Money Gram or even gift cards.  To learn more about romance scams visit the FTC website.

    Scammers in employment scams advertise the same way legitimate employers do. The scammer will promise you a job that you can’t pass up but all they want is your money.  The promise to work from home with little time and effort usually grabs the victim’s attention. Personal assistant, mystery shopper, reshipping, and job placement are just a few scams we are seeing.  These scams usually end with the victim sending money for “start-up” expenses or caught up in a fake check scam. To learn more about employment scams, visit the FTC website.

  • ONLINE LOAN SCAMS: Scammers use clever and appealing schemes to lure people into handing over money. We are starting to see more scams involving online loans.  With today’s technology, scammers are using fake checks along with home banking to deceive people into believing they have received proceeds from a loan.

     Scammers will advertise a false promise of fast and easy cash. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. They will ask you to provide your personal banking login credentials to facilitate the loan. This is not common. You should never provide your login credentials to anyone.  The scammer will then inform you a deposit has been posted to your account and proceed to request you send money to finalize the loan.  This also is not common and should be considered a red flag.

  • GOVERNMENT IMPOSTOR SCAMS: is when scammers are pretending to be government employees.  These scams are usually facilitated by threating you to remit payment to avoid being arrested. Never provide your person information over the phone without verifying the source.  Caller ID is not a credible source; scammers will spoof phones to appear legitimate.  No government agency will ask for you to remit payment by gift cards, prepaid cards, wires or cryptocurrency. To learn more about government imposter scams visit the Social Security Administration website.