Here are four signs that will help you know it is a scammer calling and attempting to obtain your personal information.
1. Scammers PRETEND to be from Independent Federal Credit Union or other familiar organizations
Scammers often pretend to be contacting you on behalf of the government or a business familiar to you. They might use a real name, like Independent Federal Credit Union, the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare. They may even make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know like Independent Federal Credit Union or a utility company, or even a charity asking for donations. The scammers will use technology to change the phone number appearing on your caller ID to trick you into answering.
Please remember that any official business such as Independent Federal Credit Union or any of the above-mentioned businesses will NEVER contact you by phone to ask for sensitive and personal information.
Rest assured, Independent will never ask you for personal or financial information over the phone, in a text, or in an e-mail. Please always be aware of phishing scams attempting to obtain any personal information from you.
2. Scammers say there is a PROBLEM or you have won a PRIZE
Don't be fooled! Scammers might say you are in trouble with the government, or you owe money. They will even try to scare you by telling you someone in your family had an emergency, was in an accident, or is in jail. Scammers may even say that they are from Independent Federal Credit Union and tell you there is a problem with your account and that they need to verify your information.
Remember, Independent will never ask you for personal or financial information over the phone, in a text, or in an e-mail. If you are suspicious of a call claiming to be from Independent Federal Credit Union, come in or contact us right away. We are always monitoring our member accounts for any suspicious or unusual activity and will be able to address your concerns and help put your mind at ease.
3. Scammers PRESSURE you to act immediately
Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. They want to catch you off guard by calling at odd times throughout the day. If you're on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can't check out their story. They might even threaten to sue you, arrest you, take away your driver's license, or close your account. Don't ever feel pressured, just hang up and check with the account or business you feel might be in jeopardy. Again, Independent will never ask you for personal or financial information over the phone, and we certainly will never threaten you or close your account without official notice and written communication. If you are suspicious, come in and review your accounts in person.
4. Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way
Scammers will often insist that you pay by sending money through a money transfer, or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some will even send you a check, tell you to deposit the check, and then send them the amount of the check. Of course, this check will be a FAKE. We are always monitoring our member accounts for any suspicious or unusual activity and if we suspect a scam in progress we may stop the transaction and work with you to avoid depositing fake checks or allowing you to withdraw a large amount of cash that is indicated as an unusual activity to be used for gift cards.
If you ever feel threatened, pressured, or if someone has called you to gain access to your accounts or personal information, then our best advice is to hang up and contact us directly. Independent Federal Credit Union will NEVER contact you for personal or account information via phone, text, or email.
For more information on protecting your personal information click HERE.