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Security Center

Common Scams

Scam & ID Theft Prevention

Card skimming at ATMs and gas pumps is on the rise and getting more sophisticated. Do you know what to look for? Card “skimming” is using a device to steal debit information. Read more below from the Federal Trade Commission.

CCFCU will never contact you by email, text or phone to ask you to provide personal account information.

Avoid Skimmers at the Pump

Skimmers are illegal card readers attached to payment terminals — like gas pumps — that grab data off a credit or debit card’s magnetic stripe without your knowledge. Criminals sell the stolen data or use it to buy things online. You won’t know your information has been stolen until you get your statement or an overdraft notice. Skimmers are nothing new, but technology has made them smaller and harder to find. Sometimes, they’re even hidden inside a gas pump.

Tips to help you avoid a skimmer when you gas up:

  • Make sure the gas pump panel is closed and doesn’t show signs of tampering. Many stations now put security seals over the cabinet panel. This is part of a voluntary program by the industry to thwart gas pump tampering. If the pump panel is opened, the label will read “void,” which means the machine has been tampered with. Take a good look at the card reader itself. Does it look different than other readers at the station? For example, the card reader on the left in the above image has a skimmer attached; the reader on the right doesn’t.
  • You can try to wiggle the card reader before you put in your card. If it moves, report it to the attendant. Then use a different pump.
  • If you use a debit card at the pump, run it as a credit card instead of entering a PIN. That way, the PIN is safe and the money isn’t deducted immediately from your account. If that’s not an option, cover your hand when entering your PIN. Scammers sometimes use tiny pinhole cameras, situated above the keypad area, to record PIN entries.
  • Monitor your credit card and bank accounts regularly to spot unauthorized charges.
If you’re really concerned about skimmers, you can pay inside rather than at the pump. Another option is to use a gas pump near the front of the store. Thieves may target gas pumps that are harder for the attendant to see.

Tips to Avoid Falling Victim to Scams

  • Never give out bank account or credit card numbers over the phone if you didn’t initiate the call to a reputable, known business. Con artists constantly try new stories to trick people into giving out their private financial and personal information.
  • Beware of so-called “free trial offers,” especially those that ask you for private information bank account or credit card numbers to cover shipping and handling charges. If the business is so interested in having you as a customer that it is willing to provide its product or service at no charge, why would it not also be willing to cover the cost of shipping?
  • Check your accounts each month for unauthorized charges – your credit card and bank accounts, and even your phone bill. It pays to be careful and vigilant – and certainly to complain if someone cheats you.
  • When tempted by a great deal offered out of the blue by a business entity you have no direct knowledge of, remind yourself that offers which sound too good to be true generally are. Keep in mind that what is presented as a fabulous value for an amazing low price (e.g. coupons for $200 worth of gasoline in return for $1.95 mailing fee) might be no more than a set-up for the real purpose of persuading you to give up your financial information.
If you’re really concerned about skimmers, you can pay inside rather than at the pump. Another option is to use a gas pump near the front of the store. Thieves may target gas pumps that are harder for the attendant to see.

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years – and their hard-earned money – cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.

On your checks:

  1. Don’t put your phone number on your check
  2. Use initials instead of your full name
  3. Use a P.O. Box instead of your home address (if you have one and make sure your P.O Box is on record at the credit union)

  • Other Recommendations

    • Memorize your PIN
    • Deposit mail in a USPS mailbox
    • Check your mailbox daily
    • Use eStatements and online bill pay
    • Don’t respond to emails requesting personal information. No legitimate company (or credit union) will send you an email asking you to verify or send personal information in reply
    • Update virus protection software regularly
    • Do not download files or click on links sent by people you don’t know
    • Use a secure browser with a firewall
    • Do not store financial information on your laptop
    • Before you dispose of a computer, delete personal information
    • Guard your Social Security number
    • Shred offers and documents containing personal information
    • Ask employers, creditors and businesses how they will use and secure your personal information
    • Keep all surplus checks, infrequently used credit cards and important personal documents in a secure location
    • Cancel and destroy unused credit cards
    • Review monthly statements and report suspicious activity
    • Review your free credit reports annually
    • Opt out of mailing lists

    • If You Suspect Identity Theft

    If you think your identity has been stolen, here’s what to do now:

    1. Contact the fraud department of any of these major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file:

      • Equifax www.equifax.com Order report, call: 800-685-1111 Report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 TDD 800-255-0056 P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
      • Experian www.experian.com Order report, call: 888-397-3742 Report fraud, call: 888-397-3742 TDD 800-972-0322 P.O. Box 9532 Allen TX 75013
      • TransUnion www.transunion.com Order report, call: 800-888-4213 Report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 TDD 877-553-7803 P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

    2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

      Use an identity theft affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.

    3. File a police report.

      Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

    4. File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

      The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps them learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so they can better assist you.

    Image of a Cornerstone credit card, showcasing its design and features prominently against a neutral background.

    ATM/Debit Card Security

    Using your ATM/Debit Card is the simple, hassle-free way to get cash, make deposits, check account balances, transfer funds, make purchases and more. To enjoy the many conveniences electronic banking offers, you should make ATM/Debit Card security a priority.

    Other Common Scams

    By learning the eight basic scam types, you will be able to spot any scam – no matter what new spin it’s given by clever con artists,” reports Bankrate.com. According to a Bankrate.com report, the following are the eight most common scams of which consumers should be aware:

    • Products That Are Too Good to Be True

      “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” the report reminds consumers. “Remember that a con artist makes a career of using excuses and explanations to lead you away from your common sense. When dealing with your money and personal information, never allow yourself to be rushed, threatened or persuaded against your judgment.” Consumers are warned that offers that are “too good to be true” do not just involve Internet or telemarketer scams. They may also be found in mail offers, magazine ads and brick and mortar stores. “Stay vigilant and trust your gut.”

    • Fraud Jobs

      According to Bankrate.com, there are several types of employment scams. “The most notorious tricks include being recruited for an illegal job; identity theft through job applications, and bogus employment fees.” In addition, the information you provide in your job application may cause you to become a victim of identity theft. The scammer may then use your personal financial information to apply for credit cards to buy more merchandise. “While hunting for a job, you may encounter someone who promises you a job, but only if you will pay a fee for processing, administration or uniforms. Steer clear of these people even if they promise you a money-back guarantee.”

    • Identity Theft

      Although identity theft is not new, cases of identity theft are rising. The thieves need only a few elements to victimize you – usually, your name and Social Security number will do. Scammers obtaining this information are often involved with other crimes such as advance fee scams and fraudulent job offers. The name for this scam is “phishing”…Almost any scam can be sprinkled with a smattering of identity theft – advance fee scams, fraud jobs and online auctions included. All it takes to become a victim of identity theft is a leak of your personal information.

    • Online Auctions

      “There are several things to be careful of when bargain-shopping online. If you find an item priced far too low, it may be a scam – a fake item, a stolen item, an item in really bad condition or something you will pay for and never receive.” This is particularly important to remember in online auctions, where pressure often surrounds bidding wars. “Never agree to pay by cash or money order – these methods of payment are untraceable and offer you no protection. You may also want to be wary of escrow companies because they are easily faked.”

    • Bogus Charity

      When giving to a charity, be sure to check out the charity first. “Never give payment information to anyone calling or e-mailing you, claiming to be with a charity,” the report recommends. “Ask them to send you paperwork on their organization. Then research the organization online and with the Better Business Bureau to make sure it’s legitimate – and that you’ve got the right contact information.”

    • A Prize that Will Cost You

      “It should go without saying that if you get an e-mail saying you won something – and you didn’t enter – you should just delete it. This is a common scam,” the report states. Often, consumers receive an e-mail indicating that they’ve won something but in order to receive the winnings or the prize, they must pay the taxes or handling fee first. “If you didn’t enter anything, you didn’t win anything. And even if you did enter, taxes go to the government, not to the organization running the contest. ” Also, do not give out personal information such as your Social Security number or account number to anyone to claim a prize.

    • Money-Making Schemes

      “When people are down on their luck, they may turn to get-rich-quick or money-making schemes. Somehow the scammers make old scams, such as the Nigerian scam and pyramid schemes, seem like plausible ways for you to make a lot of cash in a hurry. If it’s an easy way to make money, it’s probably illegal, a scam or just a really bad idea.”

    • Advance Fee Scams

      Consumers pay a fee in advance for receiving a credit card, loan or scholarship and receive nothing valuable in return. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recognized several fake loan ads. The ads appear to be real and even use the logos of real financial institutions. “But the phone number in the ad will lead you to an imposter on a cell phone who asks for your personal information, tells you where to wire money for a fee, then disappears – stealing your cash and identity.”

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