Imposter Scam - NW Preferred Federal Credit Union

Imposter Scams: the deceptive trickster

Imposter scams involve fraudsters posing as trusted individuals or organizations to manipulate victims into giving up money or personal information. These scammers often impersonate people you know or reputable entities, making it difficult to spot the deception.

How it works:

• Scammers pose as someone you trust—like a family member, friend, or even a coworker—or they impersonate a reputable organization like a government agency, bank, or tech support company.
• They often claim that there's an urgent issue that requires immediate attention, such as a financial emergency, suspicious account activity, or a virus on your computer.
• Victims are asked to transfer money, provide sensitive personal information, or grant remote access to their computer or phone. • Once the victim complies, the scammer disappears, and the stolen money or information is used for fraudulent activities.

Example:

You receive a phone call from someone pretending to be your bank, claiming that there's unusual activity on your account and asking you to verify your personal information. The caller may even pressure you into transferring money to a "secure" account. After you provide your details, you realize the call was a scam, and your funds are gone.

✩ Tips:

• Verify the identity: Always double-check who you're communicating with. Contact the person or organization directly using trusted contact information—not the number or email they provide.
• Don’t share personal details: Be cautious when someone you don’t know asks for sensitive information like passwords, bank details, or Social Security numbers.
• Look for inconsistencies: Pay attention to small details like the caller's tone, language, or email address. Scammers often use slight variations to mimic real sources.
• Question urgent requests: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions. Take a moment to evaluate the situation before acting.
• Don’t send money to unknown sources: If you're asked to send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or other untraceable methods, it’s likely a scam.
• Trust your instincts: If something feels off or too urgent to be true, step back and assess the situation carefully. Always err on the side of caution.
• Report suspicious activity: If you think you've been targeted by an imposter scam, report it to the relevant authorities or your bank to prevent further harm.

Remember:

We will never contact you by phone, email or text asking you to provide account numbers, passwords, social security numbers or other personal information. Be cautious of imposter scams where individuals may pose as representatives of our credit union to trick you into sharing sensitive details. Always verify the identity of anyone requesting personal information and contact us directly if you’re unsure.

Stay in Control

As a credit union member, you help protect your financial information from cyber threats. Stay informed about risks and follow best practices to keep your accounts secure. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and together, we can create a safer digital environment.

Card Control

Temporarily block your card within our mobile banking app, locking it to prevent fraud if it's lost or stolen. Unblock it easily when found.

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Two Factor Authentication

Serves as an extra layer of security for stronger protection of your online accounts.

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Account alerts

Setting up text or email alerts can help you recognize suspicious transactions more quickly. Set these up within online banking. Login and navigate to the “Resources” menu, and select “Alerts.” From there, you can choose the types of alerts you want and how you’d like to receive them—via SMS, push notifications, or email.

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