The holidays are here—and so are the fraudsters. The latest scam comes in the form of an email asking members to open an attachment that the cybercriminals claim is a recently returned check.
Don't do it. This is a scam.
Scammers use attachments to deliver malware or viruses that can compromise your computer and the files on it. They can even be used to steal personal information.
Below is an example of an email that one cyber-savvy member received and shared with us.
If you've received an email like this, do NOT click on any attachments.
In fact, you should always be skeptical of unsolicited emails containing attachments. Most reputable companies will not send you attachments out of the blue and ask you to open them.
If you are unsure or have questions about an email you receive, call us directly at (937) 912-7000 or (800) 762-0047 to confirm or validate its legitimacy.
Tips for spotting a fraudulent email.
To help you identify fraudulent emails, here are few red flags to watch for:
Discrepancies Between the Sender Name and Email AddressWhile the email sender's name may appear to be reputable organization's name, the actual email address may tell another story. For example, the “from" line may say Wright-Patt Credit Union, but the email address may appear as a Gmail or Yahoo account rather than a corporate email account associated with your credit union. That's a real red flag.Suspicious AttachmentsUnsolicited attachments are generally a rarity in emails coming from reputable organizations, as it's more common for those organizations to include a download link instead.Suspicious LinksWhen it comes to any link in an email, remember the “hover before you click" rule. Before clicking any link, make sure that the domain itself appears correct, and that it doesn't otherwise look “off."Improper Spelling or GrammarGenerally speaking, reputable organizations will rarely, if ever, send out emails with these kinds of mistakes, so if you get an email with glaring spelling or grammatical errors, it's best to be cautious.
Discrepancies Between the Sender Name and Email Address
While the email sender's name may appear to be reputable organization's name, the actual email address may tell another story. For example, the “from" line may say Wright-Patt Credit Union, but the email address may appear as a Gmail or Yahoo account rather than a corporate email account associated with your credit union. That's a real red flag.
Suspicious Attachments
Unsolicited attachments are generally a rarity in emails coming from reputable organizations, as it's more common for those organizations to include a download link instead.
Suspicious Links
When it comes to any link in an email, remember the “hover before you click" rule. Before clicking any link, make sure that the domain itself appears correct, and that it doesn't otherwise look “off."
Improper Spelling or Grammar
Generally speaking, reputable organizations will rarely, if ever, send out emails with these kinds of mistakes, so if you get an email with glaring spelling or grammatical errors, it's best to be cautious.