since 1954
Beware of scams
If someone tells you to pay with gift cards, it's a SCAM
Maybe someone said you’ve won the lottery, a prize or sweepstakes. Or they claim to be from the government and tell you there’s a problem with your Social Security number. And, to collect your winnings or solve your problem, you have to pay with gift cards. But here’s the thing: anyone who insists that you pay by gift card is always a scammer.
Maybe someone said you’ve won the lottery, a prize or sweepstakes. Or they claim to be from the government and tell you there’s a problem with your Social Security number. And, to collect your winnings or solve your problem, you have to pay with gift cards. But here’s the thing: anyone who insists that you pay by gift card is always a scammer.
Social Security Scam Calls
Automated telephone calls representing Social Security stating they detect suspicious activity on your account. Hang up and call the Social Security office for confirmation. Do not give out any personal information. Learn More Here
At Solidarity we want to make sure you're protected from scammers during the coronavirus emergency. We will never ask for your social security number, account number, PIN (security code), or credit card number over the phone or via email.
At Solidarity we want to make sure you're protected from scammers during the coronavirus emergency. We will never ask for your social security number, account number, PIN (security code), or credit card number over the phone or via email.
Scammers will try to attack during this uncertain time. Make sure to follow these guidelines to keep yourself and your money safe.
Over 60 Scams
The number one advice we can give to everyone but especially those deemed "at-risk" who may be more prone to panic right now, DON'T BE RUSHED. Read plenty of more tips at this FTC article.Relief Check Scams
- Do not give anyone your personal information to “sign-up” for your relief check. There is nothing to sign up for. Anyone calling to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security number, PayPal account, or bank information is a scammer, plain and simple.
- To set up direct deposit of your check, communicate only with the IRS at irs.gov/coronavirus. And you only need to do this if you didn’t give the IRS your bank information on your 2018 or 2019 return.
- No one has early access to this money. Anyone that claims to is a scammer.
Cyber Security Reminders
Unfortunately, a crisis like this pandemic can bring out the cyber criminals. A few things we want to remind you include:- While many folks are focused on physical health and adequate supplies, we are seeing an uptick nationally in cyber incidents around COVID-19. This includes phishing scams inviting victims to click on malware installers or provide financial credentials, criminals setting up fake charities, and other exploitation's.
- It is as important as ever to maintain cyber hygiene at this time. That includes double checking the sender before clicking links, NEVER share credentials or passwords, and use two-factor authentication whenever possible.
- To avoid fraudulent charities, if you are considering giving to a charity, consider giving to a local organization that you are familiar with rather than national relief efforts.
Small Business Scams
If you own a small business or work for one, you’ve seen the headlines about financial relief that may be available to some companies through the Small Business Administration (SBA). But you’ve also heard about scammers who extract a grain of truth from the news and distort it in an effort to cheat small businesses. Here are some tips to protect your business:- Scammers often mimic the look and feel of legitimate email. You’ve heard warnings for years about email phishing attempts. Fraudsters have upped their game in response. Check out the full article at the link below for more details.
- Don’t click on links. Say you get an email that says it’s from your bank or a government agency. Don’t click on any links. It could load malware onto your computer.
- Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls.
- Watch out for application scams. Some small businesses report they’ve received unsolicited calls or email from people claiming to have an inside track to expedite financial relief.
Read the full FTC article here!
General Robocall Advice
- Hang up. Don’t press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
- Consider using a call blocking app or device. You also can ask your phone provider if it has call-blocking tools. To learn more, go to ftc.gov/calls.
- Report the call. Report robocalls at ftc.gov/complaint. The more we hear from you, the more we can help fight scams.
The Federal Trade Commission released new information on scammers here.
Contact Us if someone is portraying the credit union and asking for your account or personal information
Contact Us if someone is portraying the credit union and asking for your account or personal information
