In today’s digital age, imposter scams are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated. As “Your Financial Partner for Life,” PNWFCU prioritizes your financial security and wants to ensure you are well-informed about these scams and how to best protect yourself. Read on to learn more about imposter scams and how to stay safe.

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What Are Imposter Scams?

Imposter scams occur when someone pretends to be a trusted person or organization in order to trick you into giving them money or personal information. They may try to reach you via calls, texts or email, and might pose as government officials, tech support, family members in trouble, or even credit union employees.

Common Types of Imposter Scams

There are many types of imposter scams but some of the most common types include:

• Government Impersonation Scams: Scammers pretend to be from the IRS or Social Security, threatening you with arrest or fines.
• Tech Support Scams: Fraudsters pose as tech support from well-known companies, claiming your computer has a virus that needs immediate attention.
• Family Emergency Scams: Scammers pretend to be a relative needing money for an emergency.
• Investor Scams: Scammers often offer “limited-time” investment specials, often involving cryptocurrency and offering to-good-to-be-true returns.
• Romance Scams: Fraudsters set up fake profiles on dating sites, posing as a romantic interest before scamming you.
• Credit Union Impersonation Scams: Fraudsters may call, text, or email, pretending to be from your credit union, asking for account details or personal information.

How to Spot Fake Calls

To help spot fake calls, keep these tips in mind:

• Check Caller ID: Check the number calling, but remember that scammers can still spoof numbers to look official. If something feels off, hang up and call back using a number you know is legitimate.
• Listen for Red Flags: Be wary if the caller asks for personal information, payment, or creates a sense of urgency.
• Ask Questions: Scammers often can’t answer detailed questions about your account or the organization they claim to represent.
• Don’t Trust Unsolicited Calls: If you aren’t expecting the call, be extra cautious and verify the caller’s identity through official channels. PNWFCU will never reach out via call, text, email, or chat requesting authentication, financial, or personal information. Info fraudsters might be attempting to steal may include online banking credentials, PIN numbers, security codes, account numbers, card numbers and more. The ONLY time PNWFCU will ask for your personal information will be to verify your identity on a call that you have initiated.

How to Protect Yourself

Steps you can take to help guard against imposter scams:

1. Never Share Personal Information: Do not share personal or financial information unless you are certain of the recipient’s identity.
2. Use Strong Passwords: Protect your online accounts with strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
3. Be Skeptical of Urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency (either through threats or limited-time offers) to pressure you into making hasty decisions. Take your time to verify the situation.
4. Stay Aware: PNWFCU has fraud resources and regularly lists current types of scams and fraud on our website.
5. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your accounts for any unauthorized transactions.
   • PNWFCU’s Online & Mobile Banking is a fast, free, and easy way to monitor your Credit Union accounts.
   • Card Center (inside Online & Mobile Banking) has tools to set up real-time transaction and balance alerts. You can also set up location controls, spend limits, and even turn your debit and credit cards off/on at any time.

What to Do If You Suspect a Scam

If you receive a suspicious call or something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and hang up immediately. Do not engage by clicking links in texts or emails, or by responding. If you’re not sure if a call is legitimate, it’s always a safe choice to hang up and call back. Fraudsters may discourage you from hanging up or try to “help” by offering their phone number. Do your own research to find a legitimate number.

Report the scam to the business being impersonated to help you take the necessary steps to protect your information and accounts. Additionally, you may notify authorities by reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local law enforcement.

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At PNWFCU, your financial well-being is our top priority. If you ever have any doubts, questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.