Let's Beat Fraud Together!

Popular Scams to Avoid

Lottery or prize scams: Never provide personal or financial information if you’ve been contacted about winning a prize, especially if you didn’t enter to win one. Scammers may try to get you to pay an upfront fee or taxes before receiving the “prize,” or they may ask for your account information––that way they can “deposit the money.” This is likely a scam.

Imposter scams: This is when a scammer pretends to be someone else, such as a government official, police officer, credit union or bank employee, friend, or family member––with the intention of obtaining your money or personal information. Always confirm the identity of the person contacting you. To avoid phone spoofing, hang up and call the person back directly. Your credit union won’t call you for online banking information, passwords, Social Security numbers, or other private personal information.

Wire or money transfer fraud: Never transfer money to someone you don’t know. If you are asked to send a payment via a wire transfer, prepaid card, or cryptocurrency, do not do it. These methods are nearly untraceable, and once the money is sent, it’s usually gone for good.

Check scams: If you’re selling something, do not accept a check for more than the requested amount. After the sale, scammers will ask you to send back the difference they “mistakenly” overpaid. The check will later bounce, and you’ve lost both the money and whatever item you sold.

Romance scams: These are deceptive schemes where scammers create fake online personas, pretending to be potential romantic partners, to exploit individuals looking for love or companionship. After building emotional connections with their victims over time, they gain their trust and affection. Once that trust is established, they ask for money.

Charity scams: Always verify that a charity is legitimate before donating. Check their website, look for reviews, and never donate if you’re feeling pressured. You should also be suspicious if a charity asks you to make a donation via cash or wire transfer.

Debt settlement or relief scams: Don’t pay upfront fees to any company that guarantees they can settle or eliminate your debts. Scammers will promise to negotiate with creditors on your behalf to settle your debts for a fraction of the amount owed, or even wipe the debt out entirely. They charge an upfront fee but fail to deliver on their promise, leaving you in a worse financial situation and without any real debt relief.

When in Doubt, Don't Give It Out

Never share the following information over the phone. Especially when you did not initiate the contact.

• Online Banking Information
• Passwords or PINs
• Social Security Numbers
• Account Numbers
• Credit or Debit Card Information

Recognizing Scam Red Flags

You need to act fast. Acting in urgency is a warning sign of a scam. Scammers want you to act quickly and make payments without taking the time to think the situation through.

They’re using fear tactics. If someone threatens to arrest you, sue you, or subject you to any other consequences if you don’t pay them, it’s likely a scam. Fraudsters will try to create fear and urgency to get you to do what they want.

Unusual payment methods are requested. If you are asked to send a payment via a wire transfer, prepaid card, or cryptocurrency, do not do it. These methods are nearly untraceable, and once the money is sent, it’s usually gone for good.

Pre-payment is requested. If someone offers you a prize or debt relief, if you have to pay an upfront fee or shipping costs in order to get it, it’s most likely a scam.

They want your personal information. If you are contacted and asked to verify sensitive information over the phone, hang up. Never provide personally identifiable information like your birthday or Social Security number in response to an unsolicited call, email, or text message.

You need to keep it a secret. If you are asked to keep a transaction a secret, it’s likely because the scammer doesn’t want you to share the situation with someone who might detect it as a scam.

Protect Yourself From Fraud

Never share personal information—including financial accounts and card information—with anyone. Connected Credit Union will not call, text, or email you and ask you to disclose or verify this information. A member-initiated phone call to the credit union does require providing personal information.

If you are uncertain about the questions being asked over the phone, hang up immediately and call the organization using a phone number found through a trusted source, such as the company’s official website or a financial statement.

If you receive a call about a family member in danger and needing money right away, hang up and call the family member or one close to them to verify the request.

Be cautious of spoofing or the process of scammers manipulating the caller ID to be someone else.

Do not send money to someone you do not know and trust, especially if told to wire money, use a Bitcoin machine, or purchase prepaid cards.

Immediately delete any suspicious emails or texts, do not click on any links, and block the sender. Never open attachments or click on links from unknown individuals or companies as it could enable malicious software.

Use strong passwords, change them often, and do not include personal information. Avoid recycling passwords. Utilize two-factor authentication for your financial accounts. This adds another layer of protection. Always update the security on your electronic and mobile devices.

Never provide anyone remote access to your mobile devices, laptops, or computers.

Fraudsters will try to create fear and urgency to get you to do what they want. Don’t fall for this.

Freezing Your Credit

If you do become a victim of a telephone scam, notify Connected Credit Union immediately. Call the Augusta Branch at (207) 623-3857 or the Winslow Branch at (207) 872-2636 during business hours. Monitor your accounts for any unauthorized activity and ask us to provide heightened scrutiny of your accounts. You can also temporarily, freeze your credit through each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. It won’t impact your score, but it will prevent new credit from being taken out in your name. There is no fee and you can unfreeze at any time.

• Experian: Visit Website or Call (888) 397-3742
• Equifax: Visit Website or Call (888) 298-0045
• TransUnion: Visit Website or Call (888) 909-8872