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Fraud Protection & Identity Theft

Don’t Get Scammed!

These days, there are more ways to connect to other people than ever before. And unfortunately, that means scammers too. Lots of apps and websites that are supposed to make our lives easier can also make it easier for criminals to steal your money or your identity.

We want to help protect you. Below is valuable information about fraud protection and identity theft, along with steps to take should you become a victim.

security and safety

What are best practices to protect my account?

Keeping your bank account secure is crucial to protect your finances and personal information. Here are 7 best practice tips to enhance the security of your CCCU bank account:

  • Create a strong password that includes a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
  • Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or simple sequences.
  • Do not reuse passwords across multiple sites. Consider using a password manager to keep track of complex passwords.
  • Activate two-factor authentication for an added layer of security. This typically involves receiving a code on your mobile device or email that you need to enter along with your password.
  • This ensures that even if someone gets hold of your password, they would still need the second factor to access your account.
  • Check your account frequently for any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity.
  • Set up alerts for large transactions or changes to your account settings to receive immediate notifications.
  • Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails, texts, or messages.
  • Always verify the sender’s information and contact CCCU directly by using Secure Support on the mobile app or call us at 800.347.2228 (CCCU) when in doubt.
  • Keep your computer, smartphone, and other devices updated with the latest security patches and antivirus software.
  • Use secure, private networks when accessing your bank account. Avoid using public Wi-Fi; if necessary, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to secure your connection.
  • Always log out of your banking session when you are finished, especially if you are using a shared or public computer.
  • Avoid selecting options that keep you logged in automatically on your devices.

Watch out for fraud calls and texts

There’s been a rise with Zelle Fraud Alert Scams among others. Be careful when you answer your phone or get a text! Scammers are impersonating the fraud departments of financial institutions in order to steal identities and cash.

  • NEVER give anybody your account information and passwords. The Credit Union will NEVER ask for your account information or online banking login.
  • NEVER trust Caller ID. Scammers often use software to “spoof” phone numbers, so your Caller ID may show that it’s the Credit Union calling.
  • BE AWARE of Fraud Texts and Calls: If you receive a text message alerting you about suspicious activity on your account, don’t reply to the text message. Contact us through Secure Chat within Online or Mobile Banking or call us directly at 800.347.CCCU (2228).
  • The Credit Union will NEVER call you to set up Apple Pay over the phone. This is a popular tactic being used by scammers to target people interested in contactless payments.

If you get a call claiming to be from the Credit Union fraud department or any Credit Union call you weren’t expecting, HANG UP and call the Credit Union back at our main number, 800-347-CCCU (2228). If the call was legitimate, we will direct you to the appropriate person who can help you.

Watch out for romance scams

Are you exploring online dating? Romance scammers are out to steal your cash and identity! 

  • Be careful what you post online about yourself. Scammers may target you using your social media profiles.
  • Always check out the person’s photo and profile using online searches. Scammers often use other people’s name, photo, and other details to make their persona seem genuine.
  • If the person seems too good to be true, they probably are. Don’t let anyone rush you into meeting in person too soon.
  • Never send anyone from a dating site money or compromising photos that could be used to extort you later.
  • Beware if the person keeps coming up with excuses not to meet or talk on the phone. This is a red flag that they may not be who they claim.
  • Don’t share any financial information on social media or dating sites (for example, talking about an inheritance or a big raise.)

If you suspect that someone you’re talking to online is a scammer, cut off all contact immediately. If you have been the victim of a romance scam, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.) Help stop scammers before they steal from someone else!

Watch out for Economic Impact (Stimulus) Payment scams!

Since the announcement of the Economic Impact Payment (EIP), fraudsters are out to get your personal and bank information. 

  • “Verify” or provide your Social Security number to receive the EIP
  • “Verify” or provide your bank account number and/or routing number in order to get the funds
  • Pay a fee in order to collect the EIP

If someone asks you for personal information over the phone, HANG UP immediately. 

  • Neither the Treasury, the Social Security Administration, nor the IRS will call to ask you to verify or provide information to “expedite” these payments (or anything else really.)
  • Be extremely wary of any requests by phone, email, text, or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information to “speed up” the process to receive the funds.
  • Likewise, nobody can assist a person in “expediting” or “speeding” up distribution of these funds….not even for a small fee.
  • Some payments will be going out in check form; however, there are no checks issued by the IRS that request a call in to verify information or confirm receipt in order to cash said check
  • As obvious as it may seem, anybody asking for you to hand over your EIP funds in exchange for even more money is up to no good.
  • Be cautious of anybody using the terms “stimulus check” or “stimulus payments”.  The official term is Economic Impact Payment.
  • NEVER click any links or open attachments from emails you weren’t expecting and sources you don’t know…not even if they claim to be from the CDC or WHO.

How do I protect myself from Online and Telephone Fraud?

Here are seven tips to help you steer clear of fraudsters and stay scam-free.

 A legitimate business will NEVER ask for your online banking login.

Never give information or money to someone who contacts you with a “secret shopper” opportunity. There are legitimate secret shopper companies, but you should be the one contacting them. Never do business with “mystery” or “secret shopper” firms who:

  • Advertise for shoppers in classified ads or through email
  • Require that you pay for “certification” or to get access to mystery shopper jobs
  • Guarantee you a job as a mystery shopper
  • Ask you to deposit a check for them and wire some or all of the money to someone.
  • The buyer can’t meet in person
  • The buyer offers more money than you were asking
  • The buyer asks you to send money through Western Union or MoneyGram
  • The buyer only sends you text messages and won’t speak to you on the phone

If you receive a pop-up message, phone call, spam email, or other “urgent” message about problems with your computer, don’t respond. Don’t click on any links, don’t give out any information, and don’t send any money.

The IRS will never call you about past due taxes and threaten you over payment. And they’ll never ask you to “confirm” your Social Security number or bank account information.

You can’t win a lottery you didn’t enter. Scammers may try to pressure or trick you into giving them personal information, but don’t fall for it!

Scammers may call or contacting you via email or text posing as relatives or friends. They’ll say that they’re in some terrible situation and beg you to send money immediately. Calls like this can be scary, and naturally you’ll want to help. But you should always verify any supposed emergency:

  • Hang up and call the family member or friend at a number you know to be genuine.
  • Double check the story with other friends and family.
  • Never wire money, use money transfer apps, or send money via overnight delivery options to people or places you aren’t familiar with.

What are some fraud trends, and how can I avoid them?

Here’s a list compiled for us by John Buzzard, Fraud Specialist for CO-OP Financial Services.

According to a recent Nilson report, global card fraud will reach $43.8 billion this year. While artificial intelligence, machine learning and other security innovations being implemented by financial institutions and credit card companies are helping to reduce fraud on all fronts, among the best weapons in this fight is an informed and vigilant consumer.

Here are this summer’s most prevalent financial scams that have been catching people by surprise – and for you to be watchful for all year long:

This scam works as follows: consumers are drawn in by a phony email or social media post to become a “secret shopper” in exchange for some form of financial gain.

When a consumer agrees to participate, the fraudster seals the deal by delivering a very large counterfeit check. The criminal then asks the consumer to deposit the check and purchase gift cards with the funds – keeping a small portion of the proceeds as compensation for being the “secret shopper.”

The victim is asked to email photographs of the gift cards, front and back, so the criminal can use them immediately – before the counterfeit check has a chance to bounce.

Some consumers are attracted to “get rich” and “get thin” offers, and unfortunately, an age-old diet scam has surfaced again, targeting consumers with spam emails. When an unwitting consumer signs up for the “self-improvement” deal, that individual agrees to recurring billing for the proposed service.  It pays to read and re-read the fine print to avoid a billing trap.

Fake money orders are frequently used for online purchases from websites like Craigslist. The problem is that high-quality counterfeit money orders are hard to distinguish from the real thing.  It is suggested that before you exchange goods or services involving money orders that you at least require them to be US Postal Service money orders so that your local post office can help to verify them upon presentment.

This form of fraud is usually directed at the elderly. A criminal calls an unsuspecting consumer and warns that his or her PC – however seldom used – is riddled with viruses.

The fake technician offers to assist, and then dispatches the victim to a local big box store to buy prepaid gift cards which are given as payment for the tech support services.  If you find yourself involved with similar circumstances you should refrain from purchasing gift cards or sending wire transfers.  This scam is always fake.  There are wonderful resources available from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network including scam alerts that are delivered directly to your email or phone.

This rip-off scheme typically victimizes younger consumers. A fraudster reaches out to a young person via social media and convinces the potential victim that they can both benefit by helping each other out – with the young account holder receiving a small sum – $100 or so – as compensation for cooperating with the fraudster.

The victim then gives the criminal access to his or her online banking credentials, so the criminal can deposit counterfeit checks into the account.

The fraudster also typically requires the usage of the account holder’s debit card and, in some cases, accompanies the co-conspirator to an ATM to perform withdrawals against the counterfeit checks that have been deposited. This is especially troubling if the account holder is a minor in the company of an adult criminal.  Don’t be drawn into this scam by any means.  Call your local police and ask them to help you with a suspected card cracking scenario. 

Bogus – but official-looking – letters are delivered every day to random consumers with stern requests for social security numbers and other personally identifiable information.

Some of these letters are printed on what looks like big bank letterhead and, in all cases, there is at least one “official looking” hard-copy form that the consumer is asked to fill out and return.  There is never a moment that your credit card issuer, credit bureau or financial institution will ever make a legitimate request for this information.  If you question something you receive in the mail call your financial institution directly or visit your local branch.  Don’t forget to take along a copy of the suspected scam documents.

The most important things that every consumer needs to do are monitor for unusual transactions on their individual credit card and checking accounts, followed by reporting any unusual transactions directly to the card issuer.  If you suspect that someone is impersonating your financial institution or credit card issuer it is essential that you remain calm and contact the correct corporate customer service number to verify whether you are being victimized.

Many card issuers today offer online card alerts that deliver warnings to the card issuer when anomalous activity occurs and quite a few card issuers also offer card controls that enable the cardholder to literally turn their payment cards on and off at will.

If you stay vigilant, it can help you avoid being a victim of fraud. An informed consumer is an empowered one!

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information to steal your money and credit. This type of crime can ruin your credit and affect your ability to get insurance, mortgages, and even a job.

How can I protect myself from Identity Theft?

You can help protect yourself against identity theft with these tips:

  • Do not give out personal information such as your account or credit card numbers over the phone unless you’re the one making the call.
  • Report lost or stolen checks immediately, properly store cancelled checks, and examine new check orders to verify that no checks are missing.
  • Destroy all credit card applications, financial documents, statements, and receipts before discarding them.
  • Guard your ATM PIN. Don’t write it down anywhere.
  • Make sure your mailbox is secure, and collect mail promptly as it’s delivered. If a locked mailbox isn’t available where you live, consider having bank statements & other important documents delivered to a P.O. box.
  • Contact a credit-reporting agency annually to review your credit status and files. If you have minor children, check their credit reports too.
  • Never click on links in emails that ask you to “update” or “verify” your account information.
  • Never have your Social Security and driver license numbers printed on your checks.
  • When shopping online, only buy from secure websites (web addresses should start with “https://” and should have a small lock icon next to the address in the browser window)
  • Install good anti-virus software on your computer and keep it updated.
  • Use strong passwords for your online banking and shopping accounts.
  • Never carry your Social Security or Medicare card with you.
  • Keep copies of all of your credit cards in a secure, locked drawer or safe in case your wallet is stolen.

Christian Community Credit Union will never send text messages, instant messages or email members asking them to provide and/or verify their Social Security Number, account number or personal identification information including passwords or Personal ID Number (PIN).

I think I have been a victim of fraud. What should I do?

If you have been a victim of this kind of fraud, or if you have mistakenly supplied confidential information to someone else, please contact us immediately at 800-347-CCCU (2228). We will take steps to protect you.

You should also contact:

We have also compiled a list of other resources to help you recover from identity theft.

If you’ve been the victim of identity theft or online fraud, you can minimize the damage to your credit rating and finances. But you’ll need to take action quickly and aggressively to get good results.

You’ll need to talk to a lot of people, so staying organized is important. Keep a written log of all the contacts you make with creditors, financial institutions, etc. Keep copies of all letters, file paperwork promptly, and store everything in a safe and accessible place.

Recovery Guide
Creditors and Financial Institutions

  • If someone’s opened or used your accounts, contact your creditors immediately and ask for documentation of the fraudulent transactions. You may need to fill out the affidavit form from the Federal Trade Commission’s website to help you file a police report.
  • Change all the passwords and PINs connected with your accounts.
  • If a collection agency contacts you about an account you did not open, explain in writing that this account was opened fraudulently and that you are not responsible for the debt. Ask them to confirm in writing that you are not responsible for the balance and that the account is closed.
  • Report the fraud to check reporting agencies: ChexSystems and TeleCheck.

Credit Reporting Bureaus

  • Check your credit report (and your spouse’s if you’re married.) Get a report from each of the three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
  • Report the crime to each credit bureau’s fraud department. Request that they enter a “fraud alert” in your file so that no new credit can be granted without your approval.
  • Continue to check your credit reports for inaccuracies every three months for a year, then annually after that.

How can I protect my Debit and Credit Cards from online fraud?

1. Never give anybody your login credentials and passwords. A legitimate business will NEVER ask for your online banking login.

2. Don’t fall for “secret shopper” scams. Never give information or money to someone who contacts you with a “secret shopper” opportunity. There are legitimate secret shopper companies, but you should be the one contacting them. Never do business with “mystery” or “secret shopper” firms who….

  • Advertise for shoppers in classified ads or through email
  • Require that you pay for “certification” or to get access to mystery shopper jobs
  • Guarantee you a job as a mystery shopper
  • Ask you to deposit a check for them and wire some or all of the money to someone.

3. Don’t get scammed by an online buyer. Selling something online? Look for these warning signs that your buyer might be out to scam you:

  • The buyer can’t meet in person
  • The buyer offers more money than you were asking
  • The buyer asks you to send money through Western Union or MoneyGram
  • The buyer only sends you text messages and won’t speak to you on the phone

4. Watch out for tech support and virus removal scams. If you receive a pop-up message, phone call, spam email, or other “urgent” message about problems with your computer, don’t respond. Don’t click on any links, don’t give out any information, and don’t send any money.

5. Beware of fake IRS agents. The IRS will never call you about past due taxes and threaten you over payment. And they’ll never ask you to “confirm” your Social Security number or bank account information.

6. You can’t win a lottery in a foreign country. You can’t win a lottery you didn’t enter. Scammers may try to pressure or trick you into giving them personal information, but don’t fall for it!

7. Verify all emergency calls. Scammers may call or contacting you via email or text posing as relatives or friends. They’ll say that they’re in some terrible situation and beg you to send money immediately. Calls like this can be scary, and naturally you’ll want to help. But you should always verify any supposed emergency:

  • Hang up and call the family member or friend at a number you know to be genuine.
  • Double check the story with other friends and family.
  • Never wire money, use money transfer apps, or send money via overnight delivery options to people or places you aren’t familiar with.
View Privacy & Security

For more information or to get started on any of these deposit services, consult our Ministry Development Banking team.

Contact Us Online

Call us at 909.495.8346