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SECURITY CENTER
Practical steps to protect your accounts, identity, and card activity.
MEMBER GUIDANCE
Keeping Your Finances Safe
At U.P. State Credit Union, we’re committed to keeping your finances safe and secure with features like multi-factor authentication and security questions. But protecting your accounts isn’t just about technology—it’s also about staying informed. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your information safe from scammers.
TOOLS & SUPPORT
What You Can Do
1. Protect Your Personal Information
Always be cautious when sharing personal or financial details. If you didn’t start the conversation, avoid giving out sensitive information over the phone, through text, email, or online. Scammers often disguise themselves as trusted businesses or organizations to trick you into revealing your account or card numbers.
Stay vigilant and only share information with verified sources.
2. Listen to Your Instincts
Your intuition is a powerful tool—trust it. If something doesn’t feel right, take a step back. Ask questions, pause the transaction or conversation, and don’t hesitate to walk away. You can always reach out to the business or organization directly to verify or complete any transaction.
If you’ve already shared your information in a situation that seems suspicious, contact the Credit Union immediately so we can take steps to safeguard your account.
3. Strengthen Your Username and Password
Protect your personal information by using unique usernames and strong passwords for every website and mobile app you access. Avoid common words, names, or predictable phrases in your username. For a secure password, use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Steer clear of personal details or dates—opt for randomly generated passwords whenever possible.
4. Verify Your Identity with Your Signature When Making Purchases
Selecting "Credit" requires your signature for verification. This option processes the transaction through the Visa network, and a preauthorization may be placed on your account for the purchase amount.
TOOLS & SUPPORT
Protect Yourself from Common Scams
At U.P. State Credit Union, your financial security is our top priority. Scammers are always coming up with new ways to steal personal information and money. Below are some of the most common scams to watch out for and tips on how to protect yourself.
1. Spoofing Scams
Scammers disguise their phone numbers, emails, or websites to look like they’re from a trusted source, such as your credit union, a government agency, or a well-known business. They often ask for personal information or request urgent action.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Verify unexpected calls or messages by contacting the company directly.
- Look for slight misspellings in emails or website URLs.
- Never share personal or banking information over the phone unless you initiated the call.
2. Romance Scams
Fraudsters create fake online personas to build relationships with victims, eventually asking for money or financial help under false pretenses.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Be cautious of online relationships that progress quickly.
- Never send money or share banking details with someone you haven’t met in person.
- Watch for inconsistencies in their stories or refusal to meet in person.
3. Elder Scams
Scammers specifically target older adults, often by pretending to be family members in distress, fake lottery officials, or fraudulent investment advisors.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Verify the identity of anyone asking for money, even if they claim to be a relative.
- Be skeptical of "urgent" financial requests and high-return investment offers.
- Consult a trusted friend or family member before making any financial decisions.
4. Phishing Scams
These scams use emails, text messages, or phone calls pretending to be from legitimate companies to trick people into providing sensitive information like passwords and account numbers.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
- Always log in to accounts through official websites rather than links in messages.
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for extra security.
5. Imposter Scams
Scammers pose as government officials, utility companies, or tech support representatives, claiming there’s an issue that requires immediate payment or personal information.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Government agencies will never call and demand immediate payment over the phone.
- If someone claims to be from a company you do business with, verify their identity through official contact channels.
- Never provide gift cards or wire transfers as payment.
6. Investment & Ponzi Scams
These scams promise high returns with little to no risk. Fraudsters use money from new investors to pay earlier investors, creating the illusion of profitability.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Be wary of investments that seem "too good to be true."
- Research any investment opportunity thoroughly before committing money.
- Consult a licensed financial advisor.
7. Lottery & Sweepstakes Scams
Victims receive messages claiming they’ve won a prize but must pay fees or taxes upfront to claim their winnings.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Remember, legitimate lotteries do not require winners to pay fees.
- Never share financial information to claim a prize you didn’t enter.
- Ignore any requests to send money to receive winnings.
8. Job & Employment Scams
Scammers offer fake jobs that require upfront payments for training, supplies, or background checks.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Be wary of job offers that require you to pay first.
- Research the company and verify job listings through official channels.
- Never deposit a check and wire money as part of a job.
9. Online Shopping Scams
Fake websites or fraudulent sellers trick customers into paying for products that never arrive.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Shop from reputable and well-known retailers.
- Look for secure website indicators (https:// and a padlock icon).
- Avoid deals that seem too good to be true.
10. Grandparent Scams
Scammers call pretending to be a grandchild in distress, urgently asking for money.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Ask questions only the real grandchild would know.
- Verify the caller’s story with other family members before sending money.
- Be cautious of requests for secrecy or urgent wire transfers.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam, report it immediately to your financial institution and local authorities. At U.P. State Credit Union, we’re committed to keeping your finances secure. Stay informed and protect yourself from fraud!
STAY INFORMED. STAY PROTECTED.
Use these practical steps to protect your identity, cards, and accounts.
