Fraud and Security
Learn how to protect your personal information and money from scammers and what to do if you suspect fraud on your account.
If you suspect fraud on your account, call EMUCU right away!
Protect Yourself from Fraud: Your Money, Your Security
Fraud can happen to anyone, but with the right knowledge, you can significantly reduce your risk.
Scammers impersonate financial institutions such as EMUCU to trick people into sharing personal or account information. They may sound convincing by claiming to be from an official department, using urgent language, or referencing recent transactions.
At EMUCU, we want you to be attentive and confident in recognizing red flags. Below are examples of things scammers might say - and how you can tell it's not really us:
- "We've detected suspicious activity on your account. Please verify your username and password so we can take action." We will never ask for your login credentials. We have access to systems to investigate fraud without needing your password.
- "We sent you a verification code. Can you read it back to us so we can secure your account?" We will never ask for your two-factor authentication code. That code is meant to protect you - only you should enter it.
- "We need remote access to your computer to stop the fraud before it spreads." We will never ask to access your device. Fraudsters use this tactic to steal information.
- "Your account has been compromised. We need you to move your money to a 'safe' account immediately." We will never ask you to transfer funds to protect them. That's a common scam tactic designed to get your money into the scammer's hands.
Whenever someone contacts you for money or information, it’s okay to pause. Hang up and call us directly using a number you know and trust, like (800) 968-8628.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to make purchases, access financial accounts, apply for loans, open new credit cards, receive medical care, and more. Identity thieves often start by gaining access to your Social Security number, account credentials, credit card information, etc.
Common Fraud Scams
Stay informed about the latest scams to protect yourself. Here are some common ones to watch out for:
- Phishing: Be wary of suspicious emails, texts, or calls asking for personal information.
- Smishing: Similar to phishing, but through text messages.
- Vishing: Fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from a legitimate source.
- Skimming: Protect your card information by shielding your PIN when entering it and checking for card skimmers at ATMs.
How to Protect Yourself
Take these proactive steps to safeguard your finances:
- Personal Information: Know who you are communicating with if someone asks for personal information
- Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords for all your online accounts and change them regularly.
- Monitor Accounts: Regularly review your account statements for any unauthorized transactions.
- Credit Report: Access your personal credit report using www.annualcreditreport.com to review your report and ensure that there is no fraudulent loan activity.
- Beware of Public Wi-Fi: Avoid accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi networks.
- Keep Software Updated: Ensure your devices have the latest security patches.
- Shred Sensitive Documents: Properly dispose of documents containing personal information.
FAQs
Missing credit cards should be reported immediately.
Keeping your information secure is EMUCU's top priority. If your credit card has been lost or stolen, please contact us immediately at 734-662-8200. If it is after business hours, please call the after-hours number for lost or stolen Visa® cards at 1-800-847-2911. If you feel your personal information has been compromised, please contact us so we can do everything possible to protect your EMUCU accounts. You will also want to review your credit report to see if any loans have been opened fraudulently in your name.
- There are a number of excellent online resources where you can learn more about how to fight fraud and identity theft.
- The Federal Trade Commission offers an overview of what you should do and who you should contact if you feel you've been a victim.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers contact information for the major credit reporting agencies, along with other helpful information.
- The Consumer.gov website lists ways you might find out your identity has been stolen and offers advice on identity theft recovery.
In summary:
- Contact EMUCU Immediately. Report the fraudulent activity to Eastern Michigan University Credit Union as soon as possible.
- Change Passwords: Update passwords on all accounts.
- Review Your Credit Report: See if any accounts or loans have been opened fraudulently in your name.
Stay informed about the latest scams to protect yourself. Here are some common ones to watch out for:
- Phishing: Be wary of suspicious emails, texts, or calls asking for personal information.
- Smishing: Similar to phishing, but through text messages.
- Vishing: Fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from a legitimate source.
- Skimming: Protect your card information by shielding your PIN when entering it and checking for card skimmers at ATMs.
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to make purchases, access financial accounts, apply for loans, open new credit cards, receive medical care, and more. Identity thieves often start by gaining access to your Social Security number, account credentials, credit card information, etc.
Follow these identity theft prevention tips to keep your information safe!
- Know who you are communicating with if someone asks for your personal information
- Never open email attachments from unknown sources
- Never share account information without verifying the source who is requesting it
- Monitor your accounts
- Safeguard recycling bins and outgoing mail
- Check your credit report at least annually
- Use online bill-pay services and electronic account statements. Your personal information is safer in online banking than in a mailbox.
EMUCU will NEVER ask for sensitive information like PINs or passwords, request funds to be transferred, or discourage you from verifying who you're speaking with. If in doubt, hang up and call EMUCU directly using a trusted number from emucu.org or the back of your card.
Here are a few examples of lines scammers might use to get you to give our personal information.- Phishing for PINs or Passwords
- "I’m from EMUCU, and I need your online banking password to verify your account."
- "Can you provide your debit card PIN so we can unlock your account?"
- Funds Transfer Scams
- "There’s suspicious activity on your account. Please transfer $5,000 to a secure holding account for safekeeping."
- "To prevent further fraudulent charges, we need you to send funds to another account temporarily."
- Suspicious Advice About Contacting EMUCU
- "Our main phone line has been compromised, so don't call the number on your card. Let's handle this over the phone right now instead."
- "You can't trust EMUCU’s website right now; it's safer to keep this between us on this call."
- Urgency or Fear Tactics
- "Your account will be closed in 24 hours unless you provide your information immediately."
- "Law enforcement has been notified unless you act now by giving us your banking details."
Take these proactive steps to safeguard your finances:
- Personal Information: Never give out personal information over the phone! EMUCU will never ask for things like your one-time PIN, your debit card PIN, social security number, etc. If someone calls claiming to be from EMUCU, hang up and call us from the number on our website.
- Keep your PIN safe: Never share your debit card PIN with anyone and do not write it on your card. It just makes it easier for scammers to steal your funds!
- Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords for all your online accounts and change them regularly.
- Never save passwords to public computers: It's one of the easiest ways for scammers to access your information.
- Email attachments: Never open email attachments from an address you don't recognize! Scammers may impersonate a friend, relative, coworker, or company in the hopes you won't look twice and download an attachment that allows them to hack your computer.
- Monitor Accounts: Regularly review your account statements for any unauthorized transactions.
- Credit Report: Use the CreditKarma app to track your credit report and scores
- Beware of Public Wi-Fi: Avoid accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi networks.
- Keep Software Updated: Ensure your devices, anti-virus, and anti-malware software have the latest security patches. If you don't have an anti-virus or anti-malware software, we strongly suggest you get one!
- Shred Sensitive Documents: Properly dispose of documents containing personal information.
- Only use Apple Store or Google Play: never download or purchase apps from third-party app stores.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This is a security method that requires two different ways to verify a user's identity. When you log into Online Banking, if you have 2FA enabled, you would receive a one-time PIN code to your phone or email, which you enter in addition to your password. This additional step prevents scammers from accessing your account. That's why it’s so important not to give out a PIN code! Doing so lets scammers impersonate you. EMUCU will never ask for it - if a caller claims to be from EMUCU and asks for your one-time PIN, hang up – it's a scam!