Phone scams & how to prevent

HFCU has heard of many phone scams going around recently taking information from innocent people. This is the time to do research and learn about how to spot a scam and what to do to avoid getting your personal information put into the wrong hands. The first thing you need to determine is what makes the call you just received a scam. Here are some lines that the scammer will say:

• You’ve been specifically selected…
• You have to make up your mind right away…
• This investment is low risk and provides a higher return than you could get anywhere else…
• Your child/grandchild is in trouble and needs you to send money immediately…

If you hear any of these lines in your phone call, HANG UP. These scammers are trying to pressure you or confuse you into sharing information that give them access to your bank account or personal information. They may also offer you prizes such as travel packages, credit and loans, or even claim themselves to be a charity. If any of these prizes or charities sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do your research before you do anything with these. Avoiding phone scams can be easy if you know what you are looking for. But, here are some extra guidelines to follow to make sure you are not the next victim of these scams:

• Don’t fall into pressure to make a decision right then and there
• Keep your credit card, checking account, and social security number to yourself. Even if they ask you to confirm any numbers, DO NOT give them any numbers.
• Don’t pay for anything just because you will get a “free gift”
• Check out the charity before you give. A quick search online will let you know if it’s a true charity doing actual charitable acts or just stealing your money.
• Don’t send cash by messenger, overnight mail, or money transfer.
• Don’t agree to any offer where you pay a “registration” or “shipping” fee to get a prize or a gift
• Report any caller who is rude or abusive, even if you have already sent them money. Contact 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit ftc.gov/complaint.

Unfortunately, phone scams happen daily. The only way to stop them from taking anything that they shouldn’t have is to pay attention to what they are saying and if you feel uncomfortable or confused, just hang up. It’s not worth being tricked into giving your account numbers or personal information. To learn more about phone scams and how to prevent loss, visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams. The information provided above is from this website to help you learn more and to be aware. If you have been a victim of a phone scam, stop into a branch immediately or call us at 218-729-7733.