Scams are getting more convincing. A text message can look like it came from your financial institution. A caller may tell you there’s suspicious activity on your account. An online seller, new romantic interest or other contact may seem completely legitimate at first.
The good news is that protecting yourself doesn’t require becoming a cybersecurity expert.
During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Peninsula Credit Union is focusing on a few simple habits that can make it much harder for scammers to gain access to your accounts, money and personal information.
Lock Down Your Login
Your login information is one of the first lines of defense between your account and someone trying to access it.
Use strong, unique passwords or passphrases for important accounts, and avoid using the same password in multiple places. Peninsula’s Fraud Center also recommends storing passwords securely and using trusted password-management tools to help keep them organized.
Treat your PINs, passwords and one-time passcodes like the keys to your account. If someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks you to provide one of them, stop before sharing anything.
A one-time passcode is designed to verify you. A scammer who convinces you to share that code may be able to use it to complete a login or account takeover.
Think Before You Click – or Respond
Phishing attempts can arrive by email, text message, social media or phone. They often create urgency: there’s supposedly fraud on your account, a payment is overdue, or something terrible will happen if you don’t respond immediately.
That urgency is intentional.
Before clicking a link, opening an attachment or providing information, slow down and look at the request carefully. Peninsula recommends avoiding links you don’t trust, being cautious with unexpected attachments and only downloading files from trusted sources.
If a message or caller claims there’s a problem with your account, you don’t have to continue the conversation. End the call or message and contact the organization directly using a phone number, website or app you already know and trust.
What We’re Seeing at Peninsula
Many of the scams our members encounter aren’t new – but they continue to work.
One of the most common involves fraudulent texts or phone calls claiming there is already fraud on a member’s account. The scammer then tries to convince the member to share a one-time passcode, PIN or other account information. Once they have that information, they may be able to take control of the account.
We also continue to see romance scams, online-purchase scams and other internet-related fraud.
The details may change, but the underlying tactic is often the same: gain your trust, create urgency and persuade you to send money or give up information that should stay private.
Stop. Verify. Then Act.
When something feels urgent, that’s often the best time to slow down.
Be especially cautious if someone unexpectedly asks you to:
- provide a password, PIN, one-time passcode or account information;
- send or move money;
- purchase gift cards;
- pay for something through an unfamiliar method; or
- act immediately to prevent some supposed consequence.
Verify the request independently before taking action.
That applies outside traditional financial scams, too. Romance scams can develop over weeks or months before money enters the conversation, while online-purchase scams may begin with what looks like a completely normal transaction.
The safest approach is the same: stop, verify, then act.
Keep an Eye on Your Accounts
One of the simplest fraud-prevention habits is also one of the most useful: pay attention to your accounts.
Review your activity regularly and investigate transactions you don’t recognize. Peninsula recommends frequent account monitoring and offers debit-card alerts that can notify you by text or email when purchases occur.
Keeping your phone, computer and apps updated can also help protect your devices and personal information.
Something Doesn’t Look Right? Tell Us.
If you believe there may be fraudulent activity on your Peninsula account, contact us as soon as possible.
Depending on the situation, Peninsula can take steps such as blocking an affected debit card or freezing an account, and can help with replacing compromised accounts or cards when needed.
Call Peninsula Credit Union at 360-426-1601 or visit the Peninsula Credit Union Fraud Center for additional fraud-prevention tips, alerts and resources.
Don’t make it easy for them. Slow down, protect the information that gives access to your accounts, and when something doesn’t feel right, verify before you act.
