Credit unions warn savers about cunning phone call scams. Protect your personal data and report suspicious activity.
Scammers seem to know about your account, which tricks people into sharing private details. The fake text says someone will call soon about services, and this call will be from a private number. You should use a code to ID the agent.
After the text, victims get a call from a scammer who says they are from card security. They confirm your name and card’s first four numbers. The con artist says a transaction happened on your account and says you will lose money if you don’t confirm.
Credit union users reported this scam recently. Elevate Credit Union urges customers to be careful and to never give account info in response to random messages. Be careful with messages asking for money transfers and contact your credit union if unsure, to protect your account from fraud.
This isn’t the first credit union scam. Months ago, scammers pretended to be representatives and asked for PPS numbers over WhatsApp, as well as other sensitive details. Scammers asked for “advance payments,” saying they needed them to release funds. This targets people waiting for mortgages and could make them lose their initial deposit.
If scammers get your PPS number, they can open accounts and credit cards in your name. This can go unnoticed until bills pile up, and it’s a nightmare to handle once you notice it. Credit unions will never contact you via WhatsApp. Report scam attempts to the police.