Protect your money and yourself against fraud.

• We encourage all our members to regularly check their account transactions for activity they don’t recognize, including fraudulent deposits.
• These deposits are often returned as counterfeit after the fraudster has already withdrawn them, leaving you responsible for that amount.
• If you find a suspicious transaction, immediately notify ACFCU for potential fraud to protect yourself.

Skimming captures magnetic info from a credit or debit card and uses it for fraudulent purposes. To help prevent your card from being skimmed:

• Don’t use an ATM or credit card machine that looks tampered with.
• Protect your PIN with your hand when you enter it into an ATM or credit machine.

Phishing scams include “spoofed” emails and fraudulent websites that appear as though they’re being sent by a person or organization you already know and ask you to provide or “verify” your personal, private information (passwords, credit card numbers, account numbers, etc.). To avoid phishing:

• Be cautious when using the internet and responding to telephone solicitations.
• Be suspicious of any email that is marked urgent request and asks for personal information.
• Do not click on the links in an email you’re unsure is authentic.
• Look for “http://” to appear in front of a web address when giving your debit or credit card info.
• Review your statements regularly.
• Be suspicious of emails that claim to be from your financial institution and request information from you.
• Install a firewall and anti-spyware on your computer.
• Update your browser with security patches regularly.

SMiShing, a combination of “SMS”, the technical term for texting, and “phishing,” uses text messages to prompt individuals to provide the “SMiSher” with their personal, private information. To avoid SMiShing:

• NEVER respond to text messages requesting personal, private information. If suspicious activity has been detected on your account, we will call or text and you can follow the instructions to answer questions regarding your recent card activity.

Identity theft, the fastest-growing crime in the country, occurs when someone steals someone else’s personal, private information and then pretends to be that person. Minimize your risk of identity theft:

• NEVER give out personal information over the phone/internet unless you initiated the transaction.
• Do NOT carry your social security card in your wallet.
• Make copies (front and back) of all cards and pieces of information you carry with you in case your wallet is stolen and keep them in a secure location.
• Destroy all unused preapproved credit card offers immediately.
• Remove mail promptly from your mailbox each day and ask the post office to hold your mail until you return if you plan to be out of town for an extended period of time.
• Check your FREE credit report annually to ensure all information is accurate.

Be mindful of the information you share on social media platforms. Cybercriminals often use personal details gathered from your profiles to target you and even your family members.

Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by verifying the legitimacy of unexpected links in emails or messages, as these scams aim to exploit trust and compromise your online security. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a trusted company, even if the caller ID seems legitimate, it’s best to end the call and independently contact the company using a trusted number to verify the authenticity of the call.

Your SSN is a precious piece of information. Only disclose it when absolutely necessary and to trusted entities.

If you receive unsolicited calls requesting sensitive information such as bank account details, SSNs, birthdates, or any other personal data, hang up immediately. Legitimate organizations won’t ask for such information without a valid reason.

Enabling MFA on your accounts is crucial in securing your digital presence, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access and safeguarding your sensitive information from potential security threats.

Pay close attention to your billing cycles. If you notice that bills or financial statements are delayed, contact the sender to verify the situation.

Regularly review your credit card and bank account statements. Compare receipts with the information on your statements to detect any unauthorized transactions promptly.

Dispose of sensitive documents such as receipts, credit offers, account statements, and expired credit cards by shredding them. This helps prevent identity theft, especially from people rummaging through trash.

By signing up for these alerts, you’ll immediately be made aware of any suspicious activity associated with your accounts. Staying aware of account activity is important, particularly if there’s fraud.

Here are the steps to set up alerts on your account:

1. Login to Online or Mobile Banking.
2. For mobile, click the “More” menu at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click on “Notifications” and “Alerts”.
4. Select the account for which you want to set up an alert.
5. Click the toggle button for “Transactions” and set your preferences in the window that opens.
6. Set your dollar amount and delivery method. You can get a text, email or push notification, or all three!
7. Click Save.

Obtain and review your credit reports from major credit bureaus at least once a year. Ensure there are no suspicious activities or errors that could negatively affect your credit score.

If you suspect your identify has been stolen, consider freezing your credit files with Equifax, Experian, Innovis, or TransUnion. Freezing your credit can help prevent unauthorized access to your credit history, making it more difficult for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.