Fraudsters are developing new ways to scam community members. Recent trends identified involves transferring of money from retail locations and texting to gain additional sensitive information.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Resources
Charity Fraud Scams
Gift Card Scams
Grandkid Scams
Home Repairs Scams
Identity Theft
Imposter Scams
IRS Imposter Scams
Money Mule Scams
Tech Support Scams
Work Home Scams
Latest Trends
Tax season is prime time for phone scams
The IRS reminds taxpayers to be aware that criminals continue to make aggressive calls posing as IRS agents in hopes of stealing taxpayer money or personal information. Here are some telltale signs of a tax scam along with actions taxpayers can take if they receive a scam call. Read More...
New crypto payment scam alert
There's a new spin on scammers asking people to pay with cryptocurrency. It involves an impersonator, a QR code, and a trip to a store (directed by a scammer on the phone) to send your money to them through a cryptocurrency ATM. Read More...
Amazon Phone Scam
Please be aware of the latest scam involving fraudsters calling individuals and pretending to be representing Amazon stating that someone is trying to purchase an iPhone and will ask you to login to a "secure amazon site" that they provide you. This link is a way of gathering personal data from the individual to then use for fraudulent purposes. For help identifying whether an e-mail, phone call, or webpage is from Amazon, click here.
Covid-19 Fraud Schemes
Fraudsters are taking advantage of the unexpected times surrounding COVID-19. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is urging consumers to be aware of scams related to COVID-19. They advise consumers to do research before clicking on any links purporting to provide information on the virus; donating to a charity online or through social media; contributing to a crowd funding campaign; purchasing products online; or giving up personal information in order to receive money or other benefits. Read more...
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public about several emerging health care fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bad actors are selling fake COVID-19 test kits and unapproved treatments through telemarketing calls, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits. Many scammers are promising free care to patients in order to gain access to their personal and health insurance information, including their dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and financial data. Read More...
More Information On COVID-19 Scams:
FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/coronavirus-scams-what-ftc-doing
FCC: https://www.fcc.gov/covid-scams
Store to Store Transfers
Retail store locations have begun offering a service to allow consumers to transfer money from one store to another. Fraudsters are using this service as part of their scams. If you see a transaction that you did not authorize on your account, please contact the credit union immediately to dispute the transaction.
Texting Scams
Fraudsters are moving the email phishing scams that many are familiar with, over to texting. Scammers will send a text to the member to engage in an interaction. The scammer may also then call the member to collect more information including CVV code, expiration date, social security number, etc. This information allows the scammer to create a duplicate card to process unauthorized transactions. It is always good practice to call the credit union directly at 518.583.2323 if someone contacts you requesting this information.
Tools to Stay Protected
Fraud Text Notifications
Cardholders are automatically enrolled into our Fraud Text Notifications, a service to help with suspicious transaction verification.
Learn More
CardValet App
CardValet® from Fiserv helps you control your cards through your mobile device, making it easy to set alerts and manage your finances on the go.
Learn More