Watch Out for Credit Union Impersonation Scams

Fraudsters will do just about anything to get their hands on your hard-earned money and personal and financial information — even posing as familiar financial institutions like your credit union! At Wright-Patt Credit Union (WPCU), we're aware of recent scam attempts targeting our members, and we're here to help you spot the signs.

Take a closer look at credit union impersonation scams, and how WPCU protects you against fraud:

How Do Scammers Pose as Credit Unions?

Fraudsters can “spoof" credit union email addresses and phone numbers to make it seem like you're being contacted by a trustworthy source. They may use pieces of personally identifiable information, such as your full name, to convince you to provide your account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security number or username and password. Don't fall for it!

Here are some common credit union impersonation scenarios to watch out for:

Phishing (Email) Scams

Have you ever received an email that seemed a little fishy? It might be a Phishing scam! Scammers can create convincing emails that use company logos and employee names to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims. These emails often have a sense of urgency, instructing you to “act now" or your account will be suspended.

Spot the signs:

• Double-check the actual email address, not just the sender name. Is this an email address your credit union normally uses?
• Check for obvious grammar or spelling errors.
• Hover over links to see where they really go.
• Be suspicious of emails that ask for your personal information, such as account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, passwords, expiration dates or any other personal or financial information.

Vishing (Voice Call) Scams

In a Vishing scam, fraudsters will call pretending to be a credit union representative who needs the member's personal information to “verify" their account. Because the scammer has spoofed the caller ID, it looks like the call is coming from your credit union. So, how can you tell if the call is real or not?

Spot the signs:

• The caller initiates the call and insists they need you to provide your personal or financial information. Remember, WPCU will never call you and ask for these details over the phone.
• The caller is being pushy or making threats to lock or close your account.
• When in doubt, hang up and call WPCU directly.

SMishing (Text Message) Scams

Yes, scammers can even use texting as a way to steal your personal and financial information! Because SMS text messaging is a fast mode of communication, scammers are counting on their victims to act or reply before thinking it through. The best advice is to slow down and contact the source directly before engaging.

Spot the signs:

• The message is from an unfamiliar number.
• The message uses a threatening or urgent tone.
• The message asks you to click a link to verify your identity or respond to confirm a credit or debit card charge.

How Does WPCU Help You Keep Your Accounts Safe and Secure?

The most important thing to remember is that WPCU will not contact you out of the blue asking you to provide, update or verify your personal and financial information. This is something scammers do!

WPCU will never do the following:

• Directly link to Online or Mobile Banking or provide links to websites to authenticate your information.
• Contact you via email, phone, or text asking you to provide personal information or update/validate your credentials.
• Ask you to enter your personal account information directly in an email, chat box, or pop-up message.
• Ask you to respond to an email, chat box, or pop-up message with your personal account information.
• Threaten to close or suspend your account if you do not provide your personal account information.
• Request your personal account information because your account has been compromised.

If you have any questions or concerns about your WPCU account, please contact us.

We're here to help! Looking for more fraud prevention tips, tools and resources? Visit WPCU.coop/StopFraud.​