Protect Yourself From Scams

We have seen a rise in credit union members being scammed. There are many scams circulating, and it can be easy to fall for them. Protect yourself and your money! Below are just a few examples of scams that are occurring. 

Did someone tell you to buy a gift card and give them the PIN number to:

• pay the FTCU, FBI or IRS
• keep your Social Security benefits
• keep your utilities on (electricity, water, or heat)
• pay for tech support
• help a family member in trouble
• help a servicemember needing money
• pay bail or ransom
• avoid arrest or deportation
• fix any problem, for any reason?

If you answered yes to any of these, HANG UP. It’s a scam.

Grandparent Scam – claims grandchild is in jail after a crash or arrest and needs bail money.  HANG UP ON THEM

IRS Scam – claims you owe the IRS money, and they are going to arrest you. HANG UP ON THEM

Computer Scam – pop up says you have viruses and offer to fix for $$. Unplug your computer and bring to a computer repair shop.  DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER ON THE POP UP

Child Porn Scam – they will flood your screen with X-rated pictures and threaten to turn you into the authorities. Unplug your computer and bring to repair shop. DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN 

Child Porn Scam (part 2) – they will pose as a love interest online and get a person to send nude photos or videos. Then they will claim to be the love interest’s parent and say the love interest is a minor and threaten to go to police with the pictures or videos unless you pay them. DON’T SEND NUDE PICUTRES AND DON’T SEND MONEY

Craigslist or Internet Sales Scams – claim they are interested in purchasing something you are selling. Saying they will send you a check and then ask you to ship to them. The check will be for way more than the selling price, then they will ask you to send them back the difference. DON’T CASH THE CHECK AND STOP ALL INTERATION WITH THEM

Lottery /inheritance Scam – claims you won the lottery or have an unclaimed inheritance from a very distant relative. HANG UP ON THEM

Love Scam aka “catfishing” – pose as someone looking for love online. Then they say some kind of sob story (building schools in 3rd world country, stuck overseas because of passport issues, cancer, car broke down, child sick, etc.) and need money. DON’T SEND MONEY & STOP ALL COMMUNICATION

Home Warranty Mailer Scam – Some credit union members have reported receiving a letter titled “Home Warranty Division” on the top left of letter. The letter references getting home warranty up to date for a secured property by Duluth Teachers CU. The letter includes a voucher which looks like a check on the bottom. THIS IS A SCAM. DO NOT REPLY 

Common payment methods used by scammers

Never send money to someone you do not know. Scammers use a variety of ways to collect money from you, including:

• Gift cards
• Cryptocurrency
• Wire transfers
• Money transfers
• P2P (peer -to-peer or person-to-person) payment services and mobile payment apps

Scammers use mobile payment apps to trick people into sending money or merchandise without holding up their end of the deal. For example, a scammer may offer to sell you concert or sports tickets, or a puppy or other pet, but then never actually give them to you. Or a scammer might purchase an item from you, appear to send a payment, and then cancel it before it reaches your bank account.

What to do: Never send money to someone you don’t know. If you think you made a payment to a scammer, contact your financial institution you used to send the money immediately and alert them that there may have been an unauthorized transaction. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov