Fraud Education & Prevention
Your Guide to Financial Wellness
To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, do not provide personal information, account numbers, banking or credit card numbers, PINs or log-on IDs through email links, social media, or by any unsecured means. If you receive a call or text message stating that it is from Labor Credit Union requesting information, validate it is us by calling (202) 789-2901.
More ways to guard your information:
- Create PINs and passwords that do not readily use identifiable information like names, birthdays or phone numbers.
- Request eStatements from creditors and pay bills through secure Online Bill Pay.
- Shred sensitive materials, including old receipts, statements, and credit card offers.
- Drop off any outgoing mail containing financial information or checks in a secured mailbox or inside the post office.
- Be wary of disclosing your Social Security number, birthdate, or driver’s license number over the phone, or via email or text.
- Limit the personal information you provide or display on social media.
The safety and security of our members’ financial information is of the utmost importance to Labor Credit Union. Nevertheless, new scams are happening every day. Keep your information safe by staying informed.
From phishing attacks to phone scams, beware of fraudsters! Labor Credit Union employees will NEVER ask you for your username and password. Phone numbers can be “spoofed” making them appear to come from one place when they originate somewhere else. Be cautious of fraudsters attempting to impersonate a Labor Credit Union employee who appears to be calling from our phone number.
Take control of your debit and credit cards by enrolling your cards to receive alerts which helps you control your cards through your mobile device, making it easy to set alerts and manage your finances on the go.
Making sure the credit union has your most up-to-date cell phone number is highly recommended.
- Never open an email, an attachment, or click on a link from an unknown sender.
- Do not use obvious information for PINs or passwords.
- Continually monitor your account using online banking or our mobile app.
- Shred sensitive documents with financial information such as bills, statements, and receipts.
- Enroll in eStatements in Digital Banking and use Bill Pay.
- Be cautious of giving personal information such as social security number, driver’s license number, account number, and birth date when requested by email, phone, or text message.
- Review your credit report at least once a year to ensure fraudulent accounts have not been opened using your information.
- Enable security features on your mobile and electronic devices.
Important phone numbers for your Visa Debit and Credit Cards:
PIN Change
(833) 925-2837
Card Activation
(866) 619-0245
Debit Card Call Center 24/7 Support
(501) 246-8497
(866) 207-9154 (International)
If you lose your card or have it stolen, you must call to request it canceled. A menu option will populate with the correct phone numbers to call depending on what type of card you have. You may also refer to the following list of contacts:
LOST/STOLEN CARDS
Live Agents 24/7
Report a lost/stolen card:
(833) 933-1681
When traveling internationally, report a lost/stolen card:
(812) 647-9794
Debit Card Call Center 24/7 Support
(501) 246-8497
(866) 207-9154 (International)
To report fraud or dispute a transaction:
(866) 279-1399
To respond to a fraud notification:
(855) 961-1602
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call us at. (202) 789-2901.
Police are warning about gift card scam going around. Scammers are taking cards from the store without paying for them and without loading funds onto them. They take the gift card home, and carefully remove the card from its packaging, cut off the top of the card, remove the inner barcode and return the card to the store. Shoppers then buy the gift card, get money loaded onto it and head home unaware. By the time the card is opened, or gift has been given, the card is useless because the money ended up in the hands of the scammer. To avoid becoming a victim of this crime, officers suggest every shopper remove the gift card envelopes at check out to make sure they have not been cut or otherwise tampered with.
Fraudulent emails known as phishing scams pose as your financial institution or other trusted business to try to obtain your personal and financial information online or by telephone.
Phishing scams often mimic the original site. It is important to verify the source of all emails and any included links. Do not input any personal information without verifying the destination. Labor Credit Union will not ask you for any personal information via email.
Avoid responding and unsubscribing from a scam email. By doing so, you put your information at risk. Any reply shows a scammer that your email address is in service, which can result in repeated emails. Your email address could also be used to access other people or accounts.
Text message scams, or “smishing,” is when a scam artist poses as a financial institution, government agency, or business stating that the recipient’s account has been closed or locked out, and to have it reinstated or unlocked they must provide their personal or financial information. This type of message is fraudulent.
Avoid responding “STOP” to a scam text and unsubscribing. By doing so, you put your information at risk. Any reply shows a scammer that your number is in service, which can result in repeated texts. Your number could also be used to access other people or accounts.
Scammers will set up phony profiles on social media, or dating websites often with fake photographs and identities, and develop online friendships with other users. Once the scammers have gained the trust of their new online friend, they will request money for a variety of urgent situations. To protect yourself, do not send money to people you do not know, or only know from the internet.
Never give out your personal information including phone numbers, addresses, social security numbers, passwords, PIN numbers, etc. Report the scammer to the FTC, FBI, or the platform from which you met. Finally, think before you click on any links, they may send you. You can spot a romance scam in several ways:
- They fall in love with you too quickly. The scammers try to make each interaction as romantic as possible, so the victims of these scams never suspect that they are being scammed.
- They will not video call. Scammers will always have an excuse for why they cannot get on a video call, which means you are not truly able to verify they are who they say they are!
- Their voice does not match their pictures. Because scammers are usually from foreign countries, many victims recall their voices being different than they expected upon calling their internet love interest for the first time.
Equipment like hidden cameras, card scanners and skimmers can be illegally added to ATMs. These devices allow a thief to video record your PIN and scan your card number. The false scanner may also be set up to “capture” your card so that it is not returned. Once you have left the ATM, the thief returns and collects your card.
These scams are initiated when you are contacted by someone claiming to be from your financial institution. The scammer claims there has been some fraudulent activity on your account. You are then asked to transfer money from your account or send a payment somewhere else. When in doubt, end all communication with the scammer and call the number listed on the back of your debit or credit card, or your financial institution directly.
Scammers pretend to be your utility company, claiming your account has been compromised, and threaten to shut off your services unless you pay immediately. Utility companies will never request a payment via Zelle or any other peer-to-peer systems. Zelle is intended to send money to friends, family, and others you trust.
You are searching for your financial institution’s website on a search engine to sign into your account but end up on a fake website. When you sign into a fake website, scammers will steal your username and password. Always use dolfcu.org, our Mobile App, to sign into your account.
Gift Cards
Government authorities do not accept gift cards as payments. Always be cautious if you are asked to purchase gift cards under the guise of payment for back taxes, services, or to help a loved one in trouble.
QR Codes
Always be cautious when scanning a QR code. Only scan QR codes supplied by reputable sources. Use your phone’s camera when scanning QR codes instead of downloading a QR reader app, which can have ads that lead to phishing websites. Avoid downloading and using unfamiliar apps.
Online Purchase Scams
Social media ads with eye-catching sales are being created that impersonate a reputable store. The ad’s link will take you to a website that appears legitimate but will potentially steal your information. You could also end up paying for an item that you will never receive.
Precautions should always be taken when utilizing an ATM:
- Memorize your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Do not write it down or keep it in your wallet or purse. Do not tell anyone else your PIN (including financial institution employees, the police, etc.)
- Shield the ATM keypad from anyone who may be standing or parked nearby, anyone crowding you, or from potential hidden cameras that have been attached to the machine by a criminal, to view your PIN and/or transaction. You can always “cup” your hand over the keypad or use your body as a shield if necessary while you enter your access code.
- Make sure you retain your transaction receipt. Do not throw the receipt away at the ATM site.
- A card skimmer is an illegal device that criminals attach to card readers at Automated Teller Machines, (ATM), Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals, or at gas pumps. Visually and physically inspect ATMs and POS machines before swiping or inserting your card. Does it wiggle or seem loose? If so, do not swipe or insert your card, notify the business and local law enforcement.
- Have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your computer; without it, hackers may be able to capture your keystrokes, which could include your Digital Banking account number and password.
- Pay for online purchases with a credit card and never conduct financial transactions on a website or in an app you are unfamiliar with.
- Beware of downloads from unfamiliar websites or emails. Programs that offer music, videos, pictures, games, etc. may also be installing a virus on your computer.
- Frequently look at the URL of the website you are on to make sure it is the domain of the company you are visiting.
- Use caution when using public Wi-Fi. Do not log in to banking or personal websites when connected to public Wi-Fi.
- Log in to your accounts using device security systems such as Touch and Face ID.
- Make sure your device operating system is running on the most recent update.
- Only use Apps you are familiar with.
- Activate your mobile device’s lock screen, pin, fingerprint, or face ID capabilities to keep its contents safe.
Username Safety Tips
- Do not use easy-to-guess information such as any part of your name, date of birth, telephone number, address, etc.
- Do not use the same Username as your Digital Banking Password.
- Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters in your Username. These types of Usernames are harder to guess. A good rule is not to use any word found in a dictionary. Also, do not use repeated or easily guessed numeric values (e.g., 1111 or 1234).
- Do not write down your Username.
- Do not include your Username in any file, including a word-processing document, web page or an email message. (If anyone else reveals a Username to you, delete the information promptly.)
Change your Username regularly. - Do not leave your computer unattended after you log into Digital Banking and be sure to log out when you are finished.
Password Safety Tips
- Do not use easy-to-guess information such as your name, date of birth, telephone number, address, etc.
- Avoid using your child’s or close relative’s name and birthday.
- Use a 12-character combination of letters, numbers, and special characters in your Password. These types of Passwords are harder to guess. A good rule is not to use any word found in a dictionary. Also, do not use repeated or easily guessed numeric values (e.g., 1111 or 1234).
- Do not write your Password down.
- Do not include your Password in any file, including a word-processing document, web page or an electronic mail message. (If anyone else reveals a password to you, delete the information promptly.)
- Avoid using the same Password on different systems. If an unauthorized user gets your Password, they could gain access to every system on which you are using that Password.
- Change your Password regularly.
- Do not leave your computer unattended after you log in to your accounts and be sure to lock your screen or log out when you are finished.
