Fraud and Identity Theft – We’re here to help!

Schemes used by fraudsters are ever-evolving, using well-thought-out and intricate tactics designed to fool even the savviest individuals.

Sooper Credit Union works diligently to protect its members from fraud and identity theft. We’re here to ensure you remain aware of the latest fraud and scam trends and to provide tips to prevent you from becoming ensnared in a fraudster’s trap. (Check out the articles we regularly post to our Empowered Living Blog!)

Most importantly, we’re here to help if you do fall victim to any one of these schemes.

Here are some of the latest fraud trends and what you can do to protect yourself.

Social Engineering – While you’re scrolling Facebook and Instagram or taking fun photos with friends and family on Snapchat, fraudsters are looking for people who will blindly interact with them. They’ll ask questions and gather information creating a seemingly genuine friendship or connection. Once they’ve built rapport, they’ll start asking for money intending to scam you or your family and friends out of high-dollar amounts of non-disputable funds.

Phishing/Smishing – You may receive a phone call, text, or email all claiming to be from a company you’re familiar with (Amazon, Sooper Credit Union, local law enforcement, etc.) asking for verification of information or stating someone you know is requesting funds. The fraudster uses information gathered from responses to scam you out of money or commit other crimes involving identity theft.

Check Fraud – Someone whom you may not know all that well asks you to cash a check as a favor and return a portion of the funds through P2P or money transfer apps such as Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. The fraudster is ever so gracious enough to let you keep the remaining funds as a thank you. But by the time the check is returned, the funds have already been debited from your account and sent through a non-disputable transaction potentially leaving you in a financial hardship.

Gift Card Fraud – Fraudsters request to be paid for a product or service in gift cards, which you purchase with non-disputable funds.

If you’re face-to-face with one of these schemes, keep these tips in mind:

• Never send money via gift cards, money orders, or P2P apps to someone you don’t know.
• If you receive an unexpected phone call, text, or email, call the company at their listed business phone number to verify any information.
• Know Sooper Credit Union will never ask for personal information, login credentials, or one-time passcodes.
• If something doesn’t feel right, go with your gut feeling! If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

I think I was scammed. Now what?

Sooper Credit Union is here to help! If you believe you’re a victim of fraud or identity theft, please, contact us immediately at 303-427-5005.