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AnnouncementsCall Forwarding Scams
Financial institutions across the country are reporting attempts by fraudsters to wire money from accounts. The criminals are performing selective call forwarding of the financial institution's phone number so when the financial institution calls the member, the call is actually being forwarded to a phone number manned by the fraudster. The fraudster then verifies the wire information and the financial institution performs the wire.
This scam works because almost all financial institutions perform "call-back" procedures before performing wire transfers via phone request. A 'call-back' is when you call your financial institution and ask them to wire money from your account to a different financial institution and a member of the wire department will not complete the wire until they call you back at a phone number the financial institution has on file to verify the request. Because the criminals have hijacked the member's or customer's call forwarding capability, they set up the call forwarding to go to their phone number. The financial institution cannot tell the difference because they are actually calling their member/customer.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1) Use extra caution when accessing public computers to prevent key logging of your account information.
2) Place a password with your landline phone company and your cell phone company to prevent your phone numbers from being call forwarded.
3) Don't become angry or disgusted when your financial institution asks you identifying questions when you contact them for a wire transfer or any other transaction. We're trying to protect you.
4) If you perform frequent or large wire transfers, we ask that you come to the Credit Union with a photo ID and set up a password we can use to identify you when you call.
5) Never provide any personal or financial information to anyone who calls, emails or texts you. Remember, we will never contact you to ask for this information because we already have it! However, if you contact us, we may ask you for this information to help in identifying you for your protection.
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