Phishing Scams

Phishing

Also called "carding," is an Internet scam that uses fraudulent e-mails to deceive consumers into disclosing credit card numbers, bank account information, and other sensitive information. The scam seeks to trick recipients to fill out an online form—sometimes by way of a link in the email that directs the individual to another site or page—and provide critical identity information. 

Vishing

An attempt to deceive consumers into revealing sensitive information through the use of fraudulent phone calls, some automated, and some live, placed to the consumer’s home, business, or even cell phone.

Smishing 

An attempt to gain information through fraudulent text messages to consumers’ cell phones.

Additional Information

Scammers may send deceptive messages through any of these methods, and others that are developing, pretending to be a company with whom the victim does business. It’s common for the scam to request that a recipient update or validate his billing, account, PIN, or password information in order to keep the account active. The scam may even direct the victim to a look-alike website of the business, tricking them to respond to what looks like a legitimate request. The victim unknowingly submits his financial information to the scammers, who use it to make purchases, obtain credit, and perpetrate identity theft.

If you get any form of communication warning you that an account of yours will be shut down or suspended unless you confirm personal information, do not reply. If the communication is an email, do not click on any internet link in the e-mail. Neither Union Square Credit Union nor the NCUA will ever initiate any communication to request a member’s personal information. Please call us at 940-720-8000 or 800-600-7517 if you feel uncertain about the validity of any communication you think you may have received from us. If you receive a fraudulent e-mail, report the suspicious activity to the FTC by forwarding the e-mail to spam@uce.gov.

Additionally, you can file formal complaints concerning any suspected fraudulent e-mail or text message with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Other Resources:

Learn other ways to avoid e-mail scams and deal with deceptive spam.