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Text Phishing and Spam Phone Calls

11/14/2024: UPDATE We continue to get reports of scam calls and texts.  Please remember to not verify or give out any information or click on any links texted to you.  OUR Credit Union will never contact you and ask for your personal information. If you are ever unsure of a call related to your account including transactions, debit card, or Visa card, hang up and call us directly to ensure it is valid.

01/17/24: UPDATE Some members have reported receiving similar calls again from scammers claiming to be from the Visa fraud department at the credit union.

10/9/23: We have received reports of new scam phone calls that appear to come from OUR Credit Union. They are spoofing our main number and claim to be from the Visa Fraud Department.  The caller then offers to text a link and code to your cell so the member can get a new card.  Do not verify or give out any information or click on any links texted to you.  OUR Credit Union will never contact you requesting your personal information. If you are ever unsure of a call related to your account including transactions, debit card, or Visa card,  hang up and call your institution directly to ensure validity.

Apple Device Fraud

4/3/24: We have been made aware of a new threat to Apple devices. Apple users are receiving multiple system-level prompts to reset their Apple ID password. Some users have reported declining the notification and then receiving a spoof phone call from what appears to be the Apple customer service number. If you are ever unsure about the validity of a phone call or notification, hang up and call the company directly. Read the full article here.

 

Personal Information

Personal information should never be given in response to unsolicited text messages, emails, or telephone calls - even if they appear to be from a legitimate source. OUR Credit Union will never contact members via phone, email, text message to request personal information such as account numbers, passwords, debit or credit card numbers, and (PIN) personal identification numbers.

Know that we take the security of your data very seriously and we use state-of-the-art fraud detection software to review all purchases on both our Mastercard debit cards and Visa credit cards to mitigate fraudulent transactions.

Text Phishing and Spam Phone Calls

8/8/23: We have received reports of multiple spoofing texts and scam phone calls directed at our members. They appear to be coming from OUR Credit Union asking for a PIN number, the last 4 digits of a card number, or the last 4 digits of their social security number, and/or may request an ID code regarding Mobile Wallet Enrollment.
OUR Credit Union will never contact you requesting your personal information. If you are ever unsure of a call related to your account, transactions or debit card, hang up and call your institution directly to ensure validity.

Account Verification - Computer Takeover Fraud

2/10/23: We have received multiple reports of members being contacted by someone claiming to be with a legitimate institution and asking questions about account verification. Once the information is verified, the fraudster is able to take over the member's computer, hack into their accounts, and withdraw funds. This is a reminder to be cautious and not give your personal or account information out to anyone. If you are not expecting a call from said company, hang up and call their direct number to ensure validity.

Text Phishing Attempt Reported

12/12/22: We are receiving reports of text phishing attempts, claiming another financial institution is attempting to fraud our member accounts. 

  • How to report text or email phishing
  • Report the phishing attempt to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • To report a lost or stolen card credit or debit card, please contact OUR Credit Union.
  • To report suspicious activity or if you have been a victim of account fraud, please call us at 248-549-3838 or contact your local police department.

Information sent by email is at risk of loss of confidentiality if the information is transmitted over the internet. We do not recommend sending confidential information such as account numbers, PINs or social security numbers via email. OUR Credit Union will never contact you requesting personal information. Be especially cautious during the holiday season, as fraud always increases at that time of year.

Student Loan Forgiveness

10/21/2022: With Student Loan Forgiveness all over the news, scammers are paying attention! Members have reported receiving fraudulent emails regarding this application. You may be contacted by a company saying that they will help you get a loan discharge, forgiveness, cancelation, or debt relief for a fee. You will never have to pay for help with your federal student aid. Make sure to only work with the U.S. Department of Education and our loan servicers, and as always do not reveal your personal or account information to anyone.

Annual Financial Audit

Our auditors are currently sending out letters to a sample of members confirming their loan or share balances at OUR Credit Union as of 9/30/2022.  This is a legitimate letter and is part of our annual financial audit. Below is an example of the letter you may receive.

Meijer Store Purchases

5/21/2022: We have been informed that some of our members may have been double or triple charged over the weekend (Saturday, May 21, 2022) due to a card reader issue at Meijer stores nationwide. Meijer is in the process of correcting the error. If you were affected and have not seen a correction to your account, we ask that you please contact Meijer to process the adjustment. 

Elderly Fraud Alert

5/20/2022: The number of elderly victims impacted by fraud has risen at an alarming rate, while the loss amounts are even more staggering. In 2021, over 92,000 victims over the age of 60 reported losses of $1.7 billion to the IC3. This represents a 74% increase in losses over 2020. Many of these member-targeted scams involve fraudulent wire transfers reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, specifically targeting your elderly members. The issue of elder financial abuse is likely to continue to grow as an average of 10,000 Americans turn 65 a day, a pace expected to continue through 2030 when all baby boomers will be older than 65, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Tech Support Fraud is the most reported fraud among over 60 victims with 13,900 complaints from elderly victims who experienced almost $238 million in losses.

Please Remember:

  • Never give control of your computer to anyone who contacts you. If you receive a call about a computer problem, hang up. If you suspect something is wrong with your computer or believe the scammer obtained access to it, bring it to a reputable company for a malware check.
  • Don't trust phone numbers provided in an email, voicemail, or popup ad. If you want to call the company, use the customer service number on their official website.
  • If you are asked to wire money from a recent deposit or overpayment, discuss the situation with a banker, trusted friend, or family member. Be truthful about the situation since many scammers direct you to lie about why you're sending money.

Zelle/P2P Fraud

3/3/2022: Credit union members continue to be targeted in the Zelle/P2P fraud using a sophisticated scam to defeat two-step authentication which leverages the use of one-time passcodes. They are being scammed into providing online banking usernames and passcodes resulting in unauthorized electronic fund transfers (EFTs) from member accounts via Zelle/P2P.

Financial Sanctions Notification

3/2/2022: As the conflict in the Ukraine continues, the United States has imposed financial sanctions on many banks and regions in Russia. There are also sanctions on certain individuals. We must follow the guidelines set forth for transacting with the sanctions. This applies to all wires, incoming and outgoing, as well as any Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. 

Debit Card Fraud Alert - Account Takeover Fraud

2/2/2022: We have received reports of account takeover fraud via the impersonation of fraud prevention tools. These scams use sophisticated methods combined with social engineering to deceive cardholders into revealing critical information and disregarding legitimate fraud warnings. 

Account takeover fraud occurs when a scammer has obtained sufficient credentials to pose as the cardholder to financial institutions. They then attempt to execute changes to account or card-level settings that assist in the commission of fraud, including demographic changes (phone numbers, emails, passcodes, etc.) increased limits, PIN changes, and travel exemptions that suppress normal fraud monitoring. 

Contact Center agents have reported instances of cardholders receiving phone calls claiming to be from the Fraud Prevention Department. The cardholder is sent a one-time passcode (OTP), is asked for their member account number, and told to provide the code. The caller then instructs the cardholder to reply "No Fraud" to text messages sent by the real Fraud Prevention Department in response to fraudulent transactions. 

Please remember:

  • you should never be asked for, or provide, full Social Security numbers, PINs, or OTPs. 
  • you should never respond 'NOT FRAUD' to fraud alerts on activity you did not preform, regardless of who instructs you to do so. 

Mortgage Offer Scam (Postcard Mailer)

12/10/2021: It's back! Last year around this time a postcard scam targeting OUR Credit Union members and non-members started circulating. This offer is circulating again and is not from OUR Credit Union. It is a scam. See a sample of the postcard here. 

Fraud Amidst Covid

Updated: 6/18/2020: Unfortunately, fraudsters are taking advantage of the fears and thirst for knowledge on the Coronavirus. Use caution when accessing links from emails, social media and websites and be careful to make sure any links you click on are from legitimate sources. If you are uncertain, don't click.

Read About

Text Phishing Scam

The National Credit Union Administration has received consumer calls about a suspicious text message claiming to come from the agency. The message reads: “National Credit Union Administration Alert for (recipient's phone number). Contact 844-234-5445.”

This is not a communication from NCUA. The agency does not seek personal information through the internet or on the telephone.

Please contact NCUA's Consumer Assistance Center at 1-800-755-1030 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern if you receive one of these messages. NCUA also recommends contacting your credit union and local law enforcement. 

Learn more here.

Tax Identity Theft

With tax season upon us: learn more about how to protect yourself from Tax ID Theft

Direct Deposit/ACH 

Download our MICR Number Cheat Sheet to ensure proper processing.

Have you set up your account for Social Security? Once you create an account, you can update your account information without leaving the comfort of your home. Another way to change direct deposit is by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to make the change over the phone. If you prefer to speak to someone in person, you can visit your local Social Security office with the necessary information. 

Be Aware

  • There is an organized group in the area stealing purses and wallets out of cars. If the door is locked with a purse or wallet visible, thieves have been known to break car windows.
  • The selling of ATM/Debit cards as well as PINs is a very prevalent fraud problem. A lot of these people are recruited on social media sites. People that sell their ATM/Debit card and PIN should realize they can suffer financial loss and prosecution.

Wire Scheme Alert

7/16/2018: There have been reports of scammers luring targets with the false report that social security numbers have been compromised. These scammers are asking targeted individuals to secure their SSN by wiring funds to a beneficiary of no known relation - and are often instructed to state a different purpose for the wire. 

As always, if you are unsure of the validity of a request like this, please contact the credit union. 

Learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud: 

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