Security Alerts
Scams and fraudulent activity we've seen locally
In addition, please visit the Federal Trade Commission's SCAM ALERTS page for other current and ongoing scams that could affect you.
DON'T BE FOOLED
March 23, 2023
Industrial Federal Credit Union is aware of attempted fraud in our name. The below letter is not from IFCU, nor is there any affiliation. Do not send money/payments to an account at IFCU with routing number 325180155 in Bellingham, WA. This is fraudulent!
The below is a copy of a letter we received from a non-member. The quality is poor, but it is used as an illustration.
SCAM ALERT
The Social Security Administration will never threaten, scare, or pressure you to take an immediate action.
If you receive a call, text, or email that...
- Threatens to suspend your Social Security number, even if they have part or all of your Social Security number
- Warns of arrest of legal action
- Demands or requests immediate payment
- Requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, internet currency, or by mailing cash
- Pressures you for personal information
- Requests secrecy
- Threatens to seize your bank account
- Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
- Tries to gain your trust by providing fake "documentation," false "evidence," or the name of a real government official
...it is a SCAM!
Do not give scammers money or personal information – Ignore Them!
- Try to stay calm. Do not provide anyone with money or personal information when you feel pressured, threatened, or scared.
- Hang up or ignore it. If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email, hang up or do not respond. Government employees will not threaten you, demand immediate payment, or try to gain your trust by sending you pictures or documents.
Prepare Yourself for Holiday Scams
- Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer.
- Only call your institution via the phone numbers available on our public website.
- Do not provide your online banking log in credentials, one-time password, account number or personal information by email, text or phone call. Only use your published phone number to reach out to your financial institution to confirm that the request is legitimate.
- Never give out information to callers requesting information you received via text. We will never request this information or pressure you to reset your online banking log in password. You should end the conversation with the scammer without supplying any personal information.
- Never click on links in unsolicited emails or texts. Phishing is when scammers send emails or text messages that appear to be from a reputable company and are not.
- Do not respond to texts, calls or emails for one-time passcode authorizations that you did not request or validate the login.
- Never trust caller ID as caller ID may be modified to show your financial institution’s name.
- Do not give information over the phone if you receive a call stating that a transaction is canceled, even if the caller claims to be from your financial institution. Once again, you should contact your financial institution using a published phone number to inquire about the transaction.
Fraud Alert: NCUA "vishing" scam is reported in Indiana
The League has learned that a scam identified by the NCUA has been reported in Indiana. The scam uses the agency's name in an attempt to obtain personal financial information. Credit union members from around the country have been contacted by an automated phone call claiming to be from NCUA and notifying consumers their debit cards have been compromised. The call then asks the receiver to follow prompts, which request personal information, including sensitive financial data and personal identification information. The Indiana calls have been made to cell phone numbers, and the caller ID shows just three digits — 543.
Action to take: Anyone contacted by this so-called "vishing" (voice-based phishing) scheme should immediately contact NCUA's Consumer Assistance Center Hotline at (800) 755-1030 or by email at phishing@ncua.gov to report the scam. Operators answer calls Monday — Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
VISA Alert:
Members have received text messages informing them of fraud on their cards and for them to call the number listed in the message. These are fraud messages. DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER. If you or someone you know has called the number and put in a 16 digit card number, PLEASE CALL US IMMEDIATELY. Thank you and we apologize for the inconvenience.
Online Bill Pay Alert:
There is a fraud letter going around. It reads something like this, “Our records show that your password was recently changed for your bill payment service. For your protection we are writing you to verify that you authorized this change please call (888) 860-6203.”
Our online bill pay service will not send letters out like this. They may send collection letters, but not a letter regarding a password change. And they always send correspondence via e-mail not paper in an effort to enhance the “Go Green” movement.
If you have any questions about any of these fraud warnings, please contact IFCU at (765) 771-8000 or toll free at (888) 564-4328.
