SERVUS CREDIT UNIONS TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM FRAUD
On Thursday, November 7, 2024, we hosted our National Seniors Safety Week event here at our centre. James MacDonald, the Senior Manager of Corporate Security at Servus Credit Union updated us about the current trends in the ever-changing landscape of fraud. He also walked us through simple tips to take to avoid becoming a victim of a scam.
His key message…
bank staff are trained to watch for potential victims and to do their best to ask questions. If you want to take out a large sum of money and the tellers are asking you lots of questions, it is simply to make sure you are not being victimized.
Resources from Servus Credit Union to protect yourself from fraud, cybercrime and more!
Protect your PIN
There are steps you can take to help keep your money safe by protecting your debit cards and Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Fraud prevention
You don’t have to be another victim of fraud. Protect yourself with our cybersecurity tips.
Awareness can help you protect yourself
We hope you will take the time to read about common fraud and scam tactics so you can Spot & Stop The Scam!
How to maximize your personal cyber security
Cyber scams are on the rise and as a result, the Canada Revenue Agency has released a guide to help you understand what activities are legitimate and which aren’t.
Tips to maximize your personal cyber security
- Recognizing scams online
- Strong password practices
- Be careful on public networks
- Keep your computer clean and up-to-date
Learn more
The Canadian Credit Union Association has videos, including the one below with more tips on strengthening your personal cyber security.
Scammers – They are very good at what they do
Scammers are finding new ways to trick people, and one recent tactic involves pretending to be fraud representatives from financial institutions like Servus Credit Union. These scammers are not real bank or credit union employees but are impersonating them to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. They use different methods to contact you, such as:
- Email (phishing): Sending fake emails that look like they’re from your bank.
- Phone calls (vishing): Calling you and pretending to be a bank representative.
- Text messages (smishing): Sending fake text messages to get your personal information.
Stay Alert to Buy and Sell Scams
Facebook Marketplace and other online buy andvsell platforms are the go-to places to pick up bargains. But they are also places where fraudsters like to hang out. Their scams aren’t hard to detect if you know what to look for. Be aware of the signs so you can buy and sell safely.
Scam #1
- The fraudster sends you an overpayment for an item you are selling “by mistake” and then asks for a refund of the difference.
- Usually, they send the payment by cheque.
- Don’t fall for it! If you accept the overpayment, the cheque will eventually bounce, and you will have sent the fraudster some of your own money too.
Scam #2
- The fraudster suggests communicating by text and then asks you to send back codes texted to your phone to confirm you are ‘real’.
- Warning! This code can be used illegally to take over one of your accounts, or to link future scams to your phone number.
- Never forward a code to prove you are ‘real’.
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Scam #3
- The fraudster sends you a ‘payment receipt’ for the item you are selling.
- Don’t trust them! Only use online payment solutions such as PayPal to conduct buy-sell transactions.
- That way, you’ll get an instant notification when the payment is received, and you’ll know the money is safely in your pocket.
If you have been the victim of a scam, report it immediately to Facebook Marketplace and you may be eligible for a refund.
