Trust Your Gut: How to Avoid Scams and Keep Your Accounts Secure

Fraudsters are constantly changing things up to try and steal your hard-earned money. We’re hearing about it more and want to make sure you’re aware of the latest tricks so you can protect your information and your money.

More recently, artificial intelligence is being used to make scams more realistic through cloned voices, personalized texts and emails, and chatbot impersonators to get you to share information.

First and foremost, three things to remember if you’re ever unsure and think you might be at risk:

PAUSE – no matter how urgent the request, don’t reply to phone, text, or email messages with any sensitive information, like your username, password, or account access.

THINK – does the request make sense? Is it from an institution, organization, or person you interact with? If you didn’t start the conversation, don’t share your information.

VERIFY – ask for the person’s contact information and tell them you’ll call them back. Verify the email address or phone number. Call us and we can help you confirm if it’s a legitimate request.

Remember, Ironworkers USA Federal Credit Union will never ask for this info by phone, text, or email. If you’re contacted, call us immediately.

TIPS TO STAY SAFE:

If someone unknown is asking for your personal info:

Never share card numbers, bank details, or one-time verification codes via text, social media, email, or unexpected calls.

Example: A message about an unpaid toll or package delivery asking you to click a link or confirm a code.

If someone claims to be from a government agency, tech support, or the police:

No one from the IRS, Social Security, Police, or legitimate tech support will ever ask for gift cards, your password, or remote access to your device. Scammers can fake phone numbers so don’t trust caller ID alone.

If you get a call from Ironworkers USA Federal Credit Union, but something feels off:

Scammers can fake phone numbers to make it look like we’re calling. Hang up and call us back at our official number to be sure it’s really us. Never share personal info unless you’re the one who dialed.

Important! Fraudsters are contacting members, saying there has been fraud on their account. If this happens, hang up and call us back directly.

If someone asks you to pay in gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto:

This is a major red flag. If you’re told to buy gift cards or send funds to “re-secure your account,” stop and verify. Ironworkers USA Federal Credit Union and other trusted companies will never ask for payment in this way.

If you’re using a public or unfamiliar Wi-Fi source:

Scammers can use unsecured networks to capture passwords or personal info. Use your mobile data, a secured Wi-Fi connection, or a trusted hotspot instead.

If a text or email asks you to click a link or share a verification code:

Be cautious with messages you weren’t expecting, especially ones that ask you to click a link or read back a code sent to your phone.

Scammers use these tactics to access your accounts. When in doubt, don’t engage. Hang up or delete the message, then contact the company directly.

STEPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR SECURITY:

  • Verify Your Contact Info
    Make sure your account information is up to date with us so we can reach you if we detect suspicious activity.
  • Use Voice ID
    Enable Voice ID for stronger security and faster service.
  • Strengthen Your Login
    Use strong passwords, Face ID or fingerprint login, and turn on two-step verification.

We’re here to help, call or chat with us at: 1-877-769-4766.

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