Dear Valued Members,
Recently, there has been an uptick in fraudulent activity throughout the financial industry. Scammers reach out to you using phone calls, emails, or texts that appear to come from PEFCU or other financial institutions you trust.
Fortunately, PEFCU is constantly on the lookout for potential threats, because keeping your accounts safe is our top priority. But did you know your best defense against fraud is to learn how to protect your data and spot the signs of a potential scam?
When you receive an urgent call, text, or email from what appears to be a company you do business with, the most important tip is to stay calm, even if you’re being pressured to respond. Scammers may pretend they want to help or that they are actually helping you prevent fraud by gathering your personal information. They create a sense of urgency to confuse and alarm you, hoping you’ll ignore your gut feelings and overlook red flags.
How to Spot Red Flags
No matter how urgent—or how reassuring—the scammers may seem, NEVER give your personal financial information, including your Social Security number, passwords, or account numbers to anyone over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the call. Also remember:
PEFCU will NEVER contact you to request personal information.
PEFCU will NEVER ask you for your online or mobile banking credentials.
PEFCU will NEVER ask you for your one-time verification code for a password reset or login.
PEFCU will NEVER ask you for your entire credit or debit card number, nor the card PIN, CVV, or expiration date.
How to Handle Potential Fraud
If you suspect a scam, please call our Member Contact Center at (800) 226-6673 during regular business hours to confirm before offering any information. Outside of regular business hours, please review your account using online banking or our PEFCUMobile app, where you can easily lock and unlock your card if you feel your account has been compromised.
More Resources
In addition to our Fraud Protection Program, our PEFCU Security Center provides tools and resources to help you stay secure, including updated information on the latest scams and essential steps to take if you become a victim.
Thank you for helping us to protect your account.