The Federal Trade Commission reported consumers in the U.S. lost $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, an increase of 30% over the previous year. Fraud through social media platforms is also on the rise, with over $1.2 billion in losses reported. Most of these scams are conducted through telephone calls and the median loss to a consumer is $1,400.
At AFFCU, your financial security is top priority for us. That’s why our Risk Management Department is dedicated to preventing fraud and protecting your money. As we have seen a recent increase in telephone phishing scams, we wanted to pass along some helpful information to you to help keep you protected and secure your peace of mind.
Please be aware that recently reported phone call and text scams often impersonate or “spoof” AFFCU phone numbers.
Here’s What to be aware of:
- The call or text may appear to come from AFFCU
- The caller will try to convince you to provide your personal information and online banking credentials, such as logins, passwords, and activation codes.
How you can protect yourself:
- AFFCU will never initiate a call or text requesting a one-time password/activation code, online banking credentials, to include passwords, username, and account/personal information.
- Do not click links inside potential spam messages.
- Change your passwords on a regular basis and avoid reusing the same password.
With awareness and a few simple steps, you can better protect yourself from fraud and prevent monetary losses.
And of course, our team is here to help and answer any questions you have. Feel free give us a shout at (210) 673-5610. A team member will be glad to assist you.
