Fraud Prevention
In recent months, many financial institutions have reported an increase in fraud attempts. As your Credit Union, it is our greatest priority to always safeguard your account and educate you on best practices and tips on how you can protect your money.
- FTWCCU will NEVER call, email, or text you asking for your online banking credentials.
- FTWCCU will NEVER contact you to ask for any of your secured financial information such as your debit or credit card number, PIN, or seurity information.
- Our fraud team will closely monitor your card transactions and notify you of any suspicious activity.
The tips below can help you protect your account from fraud or identity theft.
Be cautious – Do not share personal information, including your Home Banking login and password, whether over the phone, through the mail, or online. Store important documents and unused cards in a safe place. Shred old documents that contain personal information.
Be aware - Monitor all statements and account activity periodically. Review your credit report for any suspicious activity. Obtain a free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com.
Protect your electronic devices – Protect your personal and financial information by using the keypad lock or desktop password screen. Use a password app or program to save passwords or sensitive information on your device in case it gets stolen. Don’t access financial information or other sensitive information on a public Wi-Fi network. Keep security settings and software up to date.
Don't Respond - A common scam is to spoof valid phone numbers to trick you into verifying personal information. Play it safe and just don't respond. Our fraud team will NOT ask for your PIN or card number.
Knowledge is power – Each year scam artists and identity thieves steal billions of dollars from their victims. They use phone, email, text messaging, mail and online social platforms to deceive their victims into handing over financial or sensitive information. One of the best ways to avoid becoming a victim is to be knowledgeable about the various scams and tactics that are being used today.
- What is an imposter scam? A scammer who is posing to be someone they are not. They pretend to be computer technicians, officials from the IRS, grandkids and online love interests. They all have the same goal – to get you to send them money.
- What is phishing? Phishing is when an online fraudster impersonates a business to trick you into giving them your personal information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details. Most of the time they will send you an email with a link and they want you to click the link and enter your information on a website that might look like an official website – but it’s not.
- Is that a counterfeit cashier’s check? There are many variations of counterfeit check scams, and technology allows crooks to easily create realistic looking cashier’s checks, personal checks, business checks or money orders. The scam could start with someone giving you an “advance” on a sweepstakes you’ve supposedly won, or a work-from-home offer or by asking you to help a family in a foreign country by transferring funds to your account for safekeeping.
- What is "Mailbox Fishing"? This crime takes place at blue USPS mailboxes that have the pull-down drop door. Scammers will use glue traps to pull mail out of these mailboxes, in search for checks, gift cards, or cash. Criminals will then take your check and "wash" the payee line or the amount, leaving your valid signature. They will then alter the check and deposit them for their own benefit. Since the check number and signature are left unaltered, it makes it challenging to catch these scammers. If you suspect that you have been a victim of "mailbox fishing", you should report that to the United States Postal Inspection Service immediately.
If you think you are a victim of fraud or have noticed any suspicious activity on your account, we ask that you contact our Member Information Center at 817-835-5000.
More Resources
5 Easy Things You Can Do Right Now To Prevent Identity Theft
