Scammers are desperate and are impersonating your credit union. Here’s what you need to know to help protect yourself from being a victim.
Malicious actors will do just about anything to get a hold of your personal data. They send spoofing, or “phishing,” emails disguised as a friend or down-and-out stranger. They’ll text you from a ride-share company or delivery service asking you to confirm details, or claim you have unpaid tolls or parking tickets. And now, they’re calling and/or texting you from your local credit union!
The call or text might look legitimate—it comes from a familiar number or area code, may have a caller ID that has the name you recognize or the person on the other end sounds nice—but it’s not.
The latest scams unfold like this: A scammer will call or text you identifying themselves as a representative from your financial institution and they want to alert you to “suspicious” activity on your account. They may even say they are from Sharonview’s “Fraud Investigations Unit” and will assure you they can help as long you provide some information. They will often request a password, access code, debit card details or other personal data to “verify” you. BEWARE! They are only trying to gain information they can use to access your account and scam you out of your hard-earned money.
In an email version of this, scammers will send an email that appears legitimate, stating that your account has been locked and you must click a link or call a number to verify the transaction(s). These phishing emails are fake! Do NOT click on any links or call the number in the email —simply log on to Online Banking to review the transaction or call Sharonview directly at the number on our website.
So how do you avoid these credit union impersonation scams? Let’s review some tips to protect you from malicious actors.
- Trust your instincts over caller ID. Scam calls can show up as legitimate in caller ID. If you’re unsure or the call sounds strange, hang up and call Sharonview directly.
- Don’t share private account information with someone who calls, emails or texts you. Sharonview will never ask you for your personal information such as a PIN, login credentials, or access codes. Do not share this information with anyone! And don’t click on hyperlinks provided via SMS text or inside emails.
- Report unauthorized transactions. If you don’t recognize or didn’t initiate a transaction, report it by calling us directly. Additionally, Sharonview will never request that you send money to other entities, nor will we make transactions to entities on your behalf without your consent.
- Didn’t request a code? Ignore it! Did you receive a text or phone call with a one-time access code and you didn’t request it? Leave it alone. It could be a scammer trying to gain access to your account.
- Go with your gut. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call Sharonview directly to verify the details. You are not obligated to respond to any calls or texts that seem suspicious to you.
- Don’t fall for a false sense of urgency. Many scammer communications will require immediate action on your part—you must call or text RIGHT AWAY or risk fines, fees, or legal action. Don’t fall for it! Instead, call Sharonview directly and verify. It can also help us stay ahead of any potential scams targeting our members.
Remember: Being taken off guard is what scammers plan on! Don’t let them win. Never share your account credentials or access codes with anyone and, if something doesn’t seem right, report it immediately. The few minutes you take to verify and report a potentially fraudulent call, text, or email helps us protect you. Those few extra steps and minutes could save you thousands.