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Beware of Fraud During the Holidays As we approach the holiday season, please be alert to phishing attempts sent via e-mail and text/SMS (known as smishing). Some of the most common scams reported by consumers during the holidays include: Unusual Activity Scam Sent by e-mail or text, this scam falsely leads individuals to believe that their credit union or bank account has been frozen due to suspicious account activity and requires immediate "verification" by the accountholder. Avoid clicking any links or calling phone numbers provided in the communication. Instead, call the published customer service number on your account statement to determine the legitimacy of the communication. Delivery Delay Scam Most often sent via text, these messages lead individuals to believe that a package is being held by USPS or another carrier and solicit an individual to click on a fraudulent link to manage the delivery. If you have not registered for delivery tracking with the carrier, these communications are almost certainly fraud. Visit your local post office or call the carrier's customer service number when in doubt. Fake Invoice Scam Commonly delivered by e-mail, fake invoice scams lead an individual to believe they have been billed for a service or subscription they did not authorize and request that the consumer call or click on a link to make immediate payment. Be highly cautious of these emails and do not click links or call the number provided for "customer service." For further verification, search for the company's customer service number on the internet and call to report the suspicious communication. Please remember, these and other similar scams are designed to look legitimate and often use the actual logo and corporate address of reputable companies being impersonated by the fraudsters. Stay vigilant and visit EdFed's Fraud Safety page for other helpful tips. As a reminder, EdFed employees will never ask for your username, password, or the one-time authorization code received through a text message, email, voice call, or two-factor authentication application. Also, EdFed's Card Fraud Center will never ask you for the CVV code on your card or related PIN. If you suspect that you have been contacted by a potential fraudster, please call EdFed's Loss Prevention Team at 305-270-5252. |
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