Reminder: Capitol CU will never call you and directly ask for your online banking credentials, password, member number, social security number or any other personally identifiable information (PII).  If you suspect your account is compromised or have fallen victim to a scam, please contact us at 512-477-9465

SCAM ALERT: Scammers may pose as a family or friend seeking money in an "emergency"

How it works: You’re contacted by someone posing as a panicked family member or friend — or perhaps a lawyer or law enforcement officer calling on their behalf. The claim involves an emergency such as a car accident, arrest or car breakdown. But they need money, quickly. They may beg that the incident be kept secret or claim that there is a gag order.

It used to be that the scammer would start out saying, “Grandma?” or “Grandpa?” hoping to elicit an emotional response. Now criminals may check social media sites for names, locations and other information to make the call seem legitimate.

Whatever the situation, you’ll be asked for money, You can say that you need to verify some information or you can simply hang up (or stop responding to email or texts).

If you hand over money, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get it back.

The best thing to do is to make family members aware. It’s much easier to resist an emergency plea for help when family members have asked you to be skeptical.

Other tips, suggested by the Consumer Federation of America and FTC:

• Do not rely on Caller ID — scammers can make a call look as if it’s coming from someone you trust.
• Consider having a family password or asking a caller a question about a family event that you don’t think a criminal could guess or find online.
• Verify the story with a friend or family member, regardless of the hour. Scammers will call in the wee hours of the morning to take advantage of people who are less alert and primed to believe that an unexpected call could be an emergency. You can try to verify the story, such as calling the jail to see if your loved one is actually an inmate.
• Check privacy settings on social media. You typically can restrict who can see your posts and photos.
• Recognize that a request for untraceable payment forms — cash, peer-to-peer payment services, prepaid debit cards, gift cards or wire transfers — is a red flag.

If you’re a victim

• If you believe you were contacted by a scammer, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.
• If you’ve agreed to pay someone who’s coming to your home, lock the doors and call the police.
• Even if you’ve already paid, it’s still worth trying to recoup your money. It’s a long shot, but you may be able to undo some transactions if you act quickly.

 

Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/scam-alert-be-skeptical-of-that-emergency

If you suspect your account is compromised or have fallen victim to a scam, please contact us at 512-477-9465

SCAM ALERT: Scammers may pose as a family or friend seeking money in an "emergency"

How it works: You’re contacted by someone posing as a panicked family member or friend — or perhaps a lawyer or law enforcement officer calling on their behalf. The claim involves an emergency such as a car accident, arrest or car breakdown. But they need money, quickly. They may beg that the incident be kept secret or claim that there is a gag order.

It used to be that the scammer would start out saying, “Grandma?” or “Grandpa?” hoping to elicit an emotional response. Now criminals may check social media sites for names, locations and other information to make the call seem legitimate.

Whatever the situation, you’ll be asked for money, You can say that you need to verify some information or you can simply hang up (or stop responding to email or texts).

If you hand over money, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get it back.

The best thing to do is to make family members aware. It’s much easier to resist an emergency plea for help when family members have asked you to be skeptical.

Other tips, suggested by the Consumer Federation of America and FTC:

• Do not rely on Caller ID — scammers can make a call look as if it’s coming from someone you trust.
• Consider having a family password or asking a caller a question about a family event that you don’t think a criminal could guess or find online.
• Verify the story with a friend or family member, regardless of the hour. Scammers will call in the wee hours of the morning to take advantage of people who are less alert and primed to believe that an unexpected call could be an emergency. You can try to verify the story, such as calling the jail to see if your loved one is actually an inmate.
• Check privacy settings on social media. You typically can restrict who can see your posts and photos.
• Recognize that a request for untraceable payment forms — cash, peer-to-peer payment services, prepaid debit cards, gift cards or wire transfers — is a red flag.

If you’re a victim

• If you believe you were contacted by a scammer, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.
• If you’ve agreed to pay someone who’s coming to your home, lock the doors and call the police.
• Even if you’ve already paid, it’s still worth trying to recoup your money. It’s a long shot, but you may be able to undo some transactions if you act quickly.

 

Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/scam-alert-be-skeptical-of-that-emergency