Fraud Prevention Help Center | 1st Community Credit Union

Here's The Latest:

2024

1. AI Scams:  AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, and cybercriminals have discovered just how convincing AI can be in helping them trick you into sending them money.
   • Scammers can fake an entire Video Call
     • Imagine receiving an email claiming to be from your company's Chief Financial Officer asking you to do a financial transaction for the company.  You are wary, but you join a video call to discuss the request. The video call looks and sounds exactly like the CFO, so after the meeting you feel convinced that the financial request is genuine and you send the payment as requested.  However, it turns out scammers have used AI Technology to create believable video and audio of the Chief Financial Officer. This is called a deepfake.
   • Scammers can Clone Voices of Loved Ones
     • With "voice cloning" tools a scammer can use a simple snippet of your loved one's voice (lifted from a video on your loved one's social media account, collected from a voice mailbox recording, or obtained by recording a spam call made to the loved one). The audio sample is run through an AI program that replicates the voice, including laughter, fear, or emotions. This allows the scammer to enter text of anything they want the voice to say, and you end up getting a panicked phone call from your loved one asking you to do a cash app transfer to cover an emergency medical bill or auto repair.
   • How can you protect yourself?
     • Be suspicious of any unexpected phone calls. 
       • If you receive a call from an unknown number, don't answer it.
       • If you do answer, let them speak first. Be aware that anything you say can be recorded.
       • Never give out any information.
     • Beware of Caller ID spoofing, which creates a fake Caller ID on your phone.
       • The scammer's number could show up as a number that you recognize, such as a government agency or a well-known company.
     • Hang up if you're suspicious, then look up the legitimate phone number of the person, agency, or company and call them directly to verify the authenticity of the caller.
     • Never wire money or pay with a gift card. Legitimate companies will not ask you to do this.
     • Be careful what information you share online. Social media is a fun way to connect, but it's essential to protect yourself from scammers, hackers, and identity thieves.
     • Educate older and younger family members so they can protect themselves, too.

2023

1. Cybercriminals posing as Amazon support and sending notifications claiming your Amazon account is on hold due to billing errors. The scam email includes a link to 'resolve the issue' by updating your billing info.
2. Cybercriminals use Facebook Messenger to ask you about your business. The message includes an attachment, which installs malware if you download or select the attachment.
3. Per the FBI, Callback Phishing Attacks are on the rise. Cybercriminals send an email claiming you have a pending charge on one of your accounts, but if you call the number provided in the email the cybercriminal will guide you on how to connect with them through a legitimate system management tool (i.e. remotely connecting to your computer or device and controlling your device). Once the legitimate software has been installed, cybercriminals can use it to sneak ransomware onto your device, resulting in your sensitive information being stolen or used to extort you or your organization.

Consumers are urged to continue to be suspicious of unexpected emails, particularly if they include an attachment or link, or if they ask for personal or financial information, OR if you are asked to call a number.  If you are concerned that the claims in the email may be true, always navigate directly to the secure website of the company to find the best contact number and make a direct call instead of trusting the phone number in the email.

Security Awareness Newsletter - "I'm Hacked, Now What?"

Protect Yourself From Fraud and Scams

Be smart, be safe, and always contact your financial institutions if you believe that you may have given out information that you should not have disclosed.

• Never Give Out Sensitive Information: Never give anyone your Online Banking or Mobile Banking/Mobile App user name or password. Keep your account numbers, credit and debit card numbers and PINs, and social security number private and secure. If you receive a phone call, text or email that includes a request for this sort of sensitive personal or financial information, hang up or ignore the call or delete the text or email.
  • If your credit card has been compromised or lost, call 1-800-449-7728 to report it. They will assist you and arrange to issue you a new credit card.
  • If your debit card has been compromised or lost, you may contact 1st CCU at 608-269-8121 or toll-free at 1-888-706-1228 during business hours to report it and to request a new card. We can now print you a new ready-to-use debit card within minutes, so you no longer need to wait up to 3 weeks for your new debit card to arrive in the mail.
  • After business hours, please call 1-800-449-7728 to report a lost or stolen debit card.
• Pay Attention To Account Activity: You are responsible for monitoring your account activity and notifying your financial institution of suspicious activity or fraudulent charges. Online Banking, Mobile Banking, and Online Credit Card Management are offered free of charge to 1st CCU members, as well as monthly paper statements and eStatements. 1st CCU also offers free E-Alerts for notification of account activity. 
• For additional protection, consider asking a Member Service Representative to place a Password on your account. Once you've placed a secure password on your account you will give the password anytime you request information or transactions on your account in person or over the phone.
• Inspect Credit Reports Annually: All consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report every 12 months from each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies. 
  • The ONLY website authorized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to provide these free credit report copies is www.AnnualCreditReport.com. 
  • Consumers without internet access may request their free copies by calling 1-877-322-8228 or send a request by mail to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
• Don't Become A Victim Of Phishing Scams: Always question any suspicious or "official-looking" emails, letters, or phone calls that ask for verification of sensitive information, and never click on links in unexpected or suspicious emails or social media messages. Hang up the phone without giving out any information or allowing access to your information or computer.
• Protect Your Device: Every consumer who owns a computer, smart phone, tablet, or other internet-enabled device should understand what software and systems they have and configure them securely.
• Use Strong Passwords: When you use the same User ID and Password across several websites you increase your risk. Use strong, unique passwords and don't recycle the same passwords for multiple online accounts.
• E-mail is not secure: Never send your personal information via e-mail. Contact 1st Community Credit Union directly in person or by phone if you have questions about your credit union accounts. If you receive an e-mail or phone call from a business or an individual claiming to be affiliated with 1st Community Credit Union, do not give out any personal information. 1st Community Credit Union will never ask you to verify your personal information through e-mail. Question any suspicious or "official-looking" emails or letters, especially those requesting personal information to reinstate account access, claim a prize, or verify information. Never enter any of your Credit Union account numbers in response to an e-mail you receive.
• Never respond to job offers you receive via unsolicited e-mail: This is one of the most prevalent scams in the past couple of years.
• If you receive an unsolicited check in the mail, bring it directly to 1st CCU, along with a copy of any correspondence that accompanies the check. We will help you determine if the check is fraudulent.
• ALWAYS shred when throwing away documents that contain personal, financial, and sensitive information.

NOTE: If you receive an email that claims to be from 1st Community Credit Union asking you to click on a link and enter personal information, please do not respond to the email and never give out your account number, social security number, or other personal information by email or telephone.

It’s your responsibility to monitor your accounts daily, weekly, or monthly. Notify your financial institution immediately if you think you may have been scammed, or if you notice ANY suspicious transactions on your account or on your cards.