In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the possible signs that might indicate someone is trying to scam you financially. From pressuring you to act quickly to using intimidating or similar tactics, there are several approaches scammers might take with their potential victims — and knowing about these in advance is vital for protecting yourself.
At Diversified Members Credit Union, we’re happy to provide clients with several tools to stay protected from potential scams, whether you’re working with us for an auto loan or other loan type, a personal account, a business account or any related need. Here are some additional tips we often offer to clients on how to avoid falling victim to such scams.
Never Give Personal or Financial Info for Unexpected Requests
Under absolutely no circumstances should you be revealing personal or financial information over the phone, via email or in any other way to a party you’re not familiar with — and in nearly every case, where you haven’t initiated the contact. For instance, there’s simply no situation where our credit union would call you out of the blue and ask for your username or password, or to provide other details that are used to access your accounts.
If you receive a call where someone is requesting this information, there’s a very high likelihood it’s not legitimate — and the same applies to any email you might receive asking for this type of info. Never, ever provide this information out of the blue, and if you can’t verify who’s making the request with 100% certainty, don’t do it.
Ask Someone You Trust
If any financial situation or concern is arising where you think you might be dealing with a scammer, it’s always best to ask someone you trust. Perhaps they’re already part of our credit union family and can provide more information on the situation; or perhaps they’re an individual who has nothing to do with us, but are still uniquely positioned to offer their opinion.
Block Unwanted Calls and Texts
Particularly if you have trouble convincing yourself not to answer, you might find relief in simply blocking calls and texts from an unknown number. They won’t be able to leave you messages, nor will they be able to contact you until you unblock them — and if the person on the other end truly is legitimate, there’s a good chance they’ll figure this out sooner rather than later. Scammers will often use blocked or unknown numbers to lend anonymity to their efforts, but you don’t have to play along — and by blocking them, you’re also sparing yourself the stress of receiving what you know are fake messages.
For more on how to avoid common financial scams or fraud attempts, or to learn about any of our loans, accounts or other credit union services, speak with the staff at Diversified Members Credit Union today.