Fraud on the Rise

Woman sitting on her couch on her phone.

Know How to

Protect Yourself

Scammers continue to try to deceive us with their malicious emails, texts, and calls, and it’s essential to learn how to protect yourself & others from harm better. Although these messages may seem legit, there is potential that they could be scammers with malicious activity underway.

There are four main kinds of fraud those being;

Phishing (through email)
Vishing (through phone calls)
SMiShing (though SMS/text messages)
Malware (malicious software)

Fraudulent messages try to get you to give away your personal banking information, click on a malicious link to hack into your accounts, or require you to fill out information that could lead to a hack.

Spot the Red Flags: Identify Fraudulent Emails & Messages

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, often mimicking trusted brands and contacts. Stay alert by watching for these warning signs:

Don’t trust the display name – Fraudsters spoof email names to look legitimate.
Look for typos and bad grammar – Misspellings and poor formatting are common red flags.
Be cautious with links and attachments – Only click if you're expecting it or confident in the sender.
Never share a one-time passcode – Legitimate companies won’t ask for this.
Check the salutation – Businesses typically use your name, not generic greetings.
Beware of urgent requests – Scammers pressure you with immediate action.
Don’t trust everything you see – Logos and addresses can be faked.
Unusual recipient groups – Emails sent to random or similar-named recipients are suspicious.
Unexpected replies – Be wary if you receive a response to an email you never sent.
Watch for lookalike email addresses – Scammers often swap letters or use similar domains.
Verify before responding – Contact the company directly using official contact information.
Be cautious of too-good-to-be-true offers – If it seems too good, it probably is.

If something feels off, trust your instincts—pause, verify, and report any suspicious activity. Stay vigilant and protect your personal information!

A typical scam example is a fraudster (impersonating the credit union) claiming that fraudulent transactions have been detected on your account, and the credit union must verify your personal information. You may be asked to identify yourself with personal information, account info, login credentials, or a one-time passcode. Recognizing scams can be tricky. However, you can minimize the potential impact by knowing what to look for, taking the proper action steps, and remaining vigilant.

Truth is, if your caller ID says we are calling you from Unison Credit Union or our phone number, we will never ask for your Social Security Number, login credentials, or a one-time passcode. If someone calls you from our number and asks for this type of information, hang up and call us back yourself to report it. It is likely a “spoofed” call.

Always be cautious when giving out your personal information… let’s all become more educated on how to reduce the number of scams and fraudulent behavior.