Overview
We want you to feel safe with us. That's why we constantly review and update what we use to protect you and your accounts at the credit union.
To safeguard your personal information from fraud and security risk, we conduct frequent technology audits to review our system infrastructure. We are constantly evaluating and implementing new security features to ensure your accounts and transactions are safe. We also align ourselves with companies that must prove to us that they, too, take consumer privacy seriously and have the proper security and procedures in place to protect you.
Continue through the tabs on this page to educate yourself on what you can do to protect yourself from identity theft.
Trending Fraud Alerts
Knowledge is power - learn more about some of the trending fraud alerts seen today.
Coronavirus Phishing Scams
Source: www.consumerreports.org
Fraudsters are exploiting the global thirst for knowledge about the virus by launching Coronavirus-themed phishing attacks to spread credential stealing malware. The emails, which contain an infected attachment or a link to a malicious website, are made to appear like they come from the Centers For Disease Control or the World Health Organization. Consumers must be vigilant and use common sense before clicking on an email about the coronavirus outbreak. If a claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Gift Card Scam
Source: www.consumer.ftc.gov
In recent months, fraudsters have found creative ways to scam you out of your money - and gift cards seem to be the frequent weapon of choice. Many different kinds of imposters ask you to pay with gift cards, whether they say they are from the IRS collecting taxes, from Tech Support trying to fix your computer, or even a family member in an emergency. What they all have in common an urgent need for you to send money right away. Once you buy the gift card, the caller will demand the gift card number and PIN on the back of the card. Those numbers let them immediately get the money you loaded onto the card. And once they’ve done that, the scammers and your money are gone, usually without a trace.
Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. Anyone who demands payment by gift card is always a scammer.
Overpayment Scam
Source: www.bbb.org
With overpayment scams, fraudsters play the role of buyer and target consumers selling a product or service. Payment for the product or service will exceed the agreed upon sale amount, and instruction will be provided to the seller to return the portion of funds that was overpaid to the buyer.
A deposited check can take several days or more to clear. When the original check turns out to be a fraudulent item, the seller (aka the victim) is responsible for paying the financial institution back for any money withdrawn.
Legitimate buyers will never pay you MORE for a product or service.
Mystery Shopper Scams
Source: www.consumer.ftc.gov
In mystery shopper scams, the consumer, hired to be a secret shopper, is asked to evaluate the performance of a store and/or its employees, or evaluate the effectiveness of a money transfer service. The consumer is given a check, told to deposit it in their account, and withdraw a specific amount in cash. Then, the consumer is told to take the cash to the store or money transfer service specified, and typically, purchase reloadable prepaid cards or send the money to a person via electronic transfer. The consumer is supposed to evaluate their shopping experience — but no one collects the evaluation. The secret shopper scenario is just a scam to get the consumer’s money.
Many legitimate and safe mystery shopping positions do exist, but they will NEVER involve sending or wiring money back to a person.
Sweepstakes Scams
Source: www.consumer.ftc.gov
Did you receive a letter and a check stating you've won a prize, but don't remember entering any contest? Plenty of contests are run by reputable marketers and non-profits, but every day, people lose thousands of dollars to prize scams. A telltale sign of this scam is that you are instructed to pay for your prize. Legitimate sweepstakes will not require you to pay taxes, shipping and handling charges, or processing fees to get your prize. Legitimate sweepstakes will also never ask you to wire money to someone, especially to someone in a foreign country. If you receive a letter and an accompanying check in the mail and it all sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and it is most likely a scam.
Phone Call and Text Message Scams
Source: www.mycreditunion.gov
Identity thieves will pose as credit union representatives and contact consumers either by phone call or text message in this popular scam. Consumers are led to believe their account information has been compromised and they are instructed to provide personal information or click a link in order to authenticate their accounts. Account information is compromised or clicking the link installs malicious software on the user's device. Consumers should avoid providing personal information when they did not initiate the call or text message. Dutch Point Credit Union will never request personal information via text message.