Stay informed about the latest scams so you can spot them and prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
The Scam: Card Fraud
The scammer calls or texts you about a charge asking for a “yes or no” answer. Once you text back or engage with the scammer, they reel you in little by little, gaining your trust. They typically spoof your financial institution’s main phone number. They will sometimes even have the card or part of the card number but not always. The scammer states he is with the fraud dept and he is closing out the card and needs to get a new card ordered. To verify, they need information like social security number, date of birth, full card number, CVV codes, access to online banking or a code being “texted” to the member. They then gain access to your identity, card and online banking.
The Scam: Romance, Employment, Loan & Rental Scams
Most often the scammer is the one to initiate contact, but they can also bait you with social media posts or ads. If they ask you to use your account and ask for that information, STOP. Many times a quick online search can expose the scam as they have usually done it several times to other victims. Red flags include: the terms are too good to be true; scammer sends you a check electronically by email for you to print or remote deposit into your account and asks you to Venmo/CashApp or Paypal them money for app fees; scammer asks you to keep your activities a secret from the bank; scammer asks you to mislead the bank about what you are doing; scammer asks for gift cards or your login credentials.
The Scam: Warrants/Taxes/Legal Aid & Immigration
The scammer uses fear to get funds sent to them. They will typically ask for wires, CashApp/Venmo, cash or gift cards. All government entities do take checks and they don’t take CashApp/Venmo or gift cards. A simple online search can expose these scammers. If not, reaching out to local law enforcement can help. If immigration status is an issue, the victims are typically afraid to go to authorities but they can reach out to a lawyer or local charitable or legal organization who can advise them.
The Scam: Phishing (Email)
Be cautious if the email –
- Doesn’t use your full name or has a generic greeting.
- Has incorrect logos, design or looks strange.
- Contains suspicious website links.
Be wary of false urgency.
Scams often create a false sense of urgency and they may include attachments in an email.
Watch out for offers that seem too good to be true.
Scammers can use false promises like money in payment of a favor, lottery wins or unsolicited job offers.
Never share personal, credit card or account information via email or text.
The Scam: Pretexting
Pretexting is when scammers create a false scenario using a made-up identity or pose as someone you know. They can even pose as an employee of a business you work with to get you to divulge personal information.
How it works - Pretexting with authority
You receive a call demanding immediate assistance. The caller speaks in an aggressive tone. They may establish authority by using an official sounding title. They can use scare tactics to persuade you into giving away sensitive information.
Pretexting with obligation
You receive a call from someone posing as an employee from a software company. They tell you they have found malicious activity on your computer and they imply you accessed a malicious website. They may demand you update your password with a more secure password they provide.
The Scam: QR codes
QR codes are everywhere nowadays. These scannable codes are used for payments, registrations, advertising and information by businesses, brands and fraudsters. Fraudulent QR codes redirect individuals to fake or malicious websites designed to steal sensitive personal information, authentication information and payment data or install malware on their devices. Quishing (phishing with a QR code) has become more widespread.
How to avoid becoming a victim of a scam
Golden Plains Credit Union will never contact you and ask you to give us sensitive information, codes or online banking credentials. Stop, slow down and do not allow the scammer to pressure you by making you think you will lose your money. If you feel pressure, disconnect the call and call us directly at the number on your member statement or our website at gpcu.org. You can also visit us in person. We can verify if there is a fraud case on your account and assist you. You cannot rely on the caller ID or an email address to know who you are speaking with as they are easily spoofed. By calling us directly, you can verify who you are talking to. Never give out sensitive information over the phone, online or via email unless you initiate contact. If the caller claims to be an employee but their request feels suspicious, verify their identity through a trusted party and then you can call them back.
We encourage you to sign up for the GPCU Card’s app and the GPCU Mobile banking app. You can be proactive by monitoring your account ensuring transactions are accurate, setup account alerts and more. Fraud prevention starts with awareness.
Fraud Prevention
Your security is our top priority. But you can help too. Knowledge is a powerful defense against fraud, and knowing what GPCU will ask you—and what we will never ask you—is an important way you can help us keep your money safe.
Scammers are constantly finding new ways to steal money. Common ways include impersonating your financial institution through phone calls, texts, and emails.
Be Proactive
Golden Plains has many ways to help you protect your accounts. Many of the helpful tools to keep your account secure are available through Golden Plains Online Banking. When you register for Golden Plains Online, you have anytime, anywhere access to your accounts.
Through Golden Plains Online, you can:
- Monitor your account(s) regularly for unusual transactions.
- Ensure your contact information is up-to-date so we can contact you directly in the event of suspicious activity.
- Set up alerts to stay informed about activity on your accounts. You can set up alerts for when your cards are used and set transaction alerts for specific dollar amounts, merchant categories, or geographic locations.
- Manage your Debit and Credit cards using our GPCU Cards app, where you can lock or unlock your card.
- Enable biometrics like facial recognition and fingerprint sign-on for the GPCU Mobile and GPCU Cards app.
- Sign up to receive e-Statements to help reduce the risk of identity theft from stolen paper documents.
Protect yourself from becoming a fraud victim
Your security is our top priority. Knowledge is a powerful defense against fraud. We recommend you take the following preventive steps for your protection.
- Create strong passwords for a solid defense against hackers. An ideal password should use a combination of special characters, numbers, and capital and lowercase letters. And do not use information easily available on social media—like a pet’s name or your birthday—as part of your password.
- Always log out of Golden Plains Online, GPCU Mobile and the GPCU Cards app when you are not using it. Do not save your login credentials on any public computer.
- Review your credit report annually from the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Visit annualcreditreport.com for a free copy of your credit report. You can request this free copy once every 12 months.
- Shred important papers like statements and credit card offers before throwing them away.
- Before entering your PIN at an ATM, look around for unusual items around the machine and shield the PIN pad before entering your information.
- Keep your devices (phone, tablet, and computer) up to date with the latest browsers and operating systems.