Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) is aware of a scam targeting financial consumers (including PSECU members) across the U.S. and Canada. Fraudsters pose as bank representatives in an attempt to deplete accounts and/or advance lines of credit. Please read below for information on how to safeguard yourself from this scam.
How does this scam usually work?
* A fraudster calls you and pretends to be a representative from your financial institution. They might sound like your financial institution. Don't trust caller ID. Calls, texts, and emails can be easily "spoofed" or faked.
* The fraudster then attempts to verify a transaction you did not make to gain your trust. They offer to order you a new card.
* You are then asked to provide personal or sensitive information, such as your user ID, full or partial Social Security number, PIN, full or partial card number, or account number.
* Once a fraudster has this information, they will log into your account, transfer funds, and use counterfeit cards to withdraw funds at the ATM or make purchases.
PSECU will never contact you to ask for any of the following information:
* PSECU account number
* Account PIN
* User ID
* Mobile/online banking password
* Credit/debit card CVV number
* Credit/debit card PIN
* Social Security number (full or partial)
What should I do if I'm contacted?
If you receive a call, email, or other communication from someone claiming to represent a financial institution (including PSECU) asking for the information listed above, please do not engage. Instead, contact your financial institution using published phone numbers on their website to ensure the security of your account.
What can I do to protect myself?
* Always call your financial institution directly to verify account status or transactions. If you receive a call, text, or email from a party claiming to be your financial institution, do not provide any account information.
* Think before you act. Be wary of communications that play on fear (frozen bank account or fraudulent transactions), request urgent action (act immediately), request personal information (PIN, SSN, account numbers, etc.), or offer deals that sound too good to be true. If you're ever unsure, hang up and contact your financial institution.
* Never share any password, passcode, or PIN, even if they are temporary or one-time codes. Financial institutions do not need to ask for your password, and one-time passcodes should only be entered into a system when you are confirming it is your activity.
* Set up account alerts to notify you of activity on your account. PSECU offers free account alerts to notify you when a new mobile device is used to access your account, a purchase is made, or card limits are raised.
