three scams targeting you right now: spoofing, phishing and elder abuse
August 27, 2024
Most people work hard to earn their money. Scammers don’t. These criminals target normal people just trying to live their lives. It’s not distant either; fraudsters victimize people right here at AlliedFCU.
Three types of scams targeting our members right now are:
1. Phishing
2. Spoofing
3. Elder Abuse
Phishing
Phishing happens over email or text. A fraudster writes messages with links designed to steal your information. The messages might say you have a package to pick up or your AlliedFCU account has unauthorized transactions.
If you click the link or fill out any related forms, the scammer steals your information. Then, they can use your personal data to open accounts in your name or even take control of your current account.
Spoofing
Spoofing is a common scam, and 30,000 of these fake calls happen each day. Here’s how it works. A scammer clones an organization’s phone number and calls the victim from that number. On your caller ID, it looks like a legitimate call.
The person on the line sounds legitimate too. They’ll warm you up or alarm you before asking for personal information. Once you hand it over, the criminal can once again take over your accounts or open new ones in your name. These scams are happening at AlliedFCU right now, so stay alert.
Elder Abuse
Elder Abuse scams pick on vulnerable seniors since this group tends to be unfamiliar with technology, has cognitive disorders like dementia and frequently relies on others. Many older members have lifelong savings fraudsters would love to steal.
How do these scams work?
A scammer calls an elderly target pretending to be a relative in need, a government official, tech support or other person of importance. Then, they ask the victim to buy gift cards or withdraw money from the credit union.
Since credit union employees try to stop this from happening, the criminal tells you the credit union is corrupt. They use threats and tell you to stay on the line while you withdraw money.
Beat the Scammers
These crimes sound scary, but you can avoid becoming a victim with the right information. Here’s how you can beat the criminals.
Trust your credit union and its employees. Listen to advice from AlliedFCU; don’t listen to a random person on the phone.
Hang up. Call an organization directly to ensure you’re speaking to a real employee. Ignore threats made over the phone. A scammer can rarely physically harm you.
Never give out personal information to a caller. AlliedFCU employees will never call and ask for personal data or one-time passcodes. We already have your information.
Never click on links from unexpected messages. Don’t click on links from unfamiliar senders. Look at the email address to see if it’s gibberish or doesn’t match the sender’s name.
Take a moment to think clearly. Scammers want to panic you. Stop, breathe and think. Are you expecting a package? Does your mobile app show unauthorized transactions? Does this make sense?
If you realize you’re a scam victim after reading this, contact us at (817) 856-4444. We want to help all our members stay safe and financially secure.
Look for more information about scams and other important information on our blog.