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Asked For Personal Info? Don’t Tell. Protect Yourself From New Scams.

Summary Protecting your personal information starts with knowing when not to share it. Learn how modern scams target personal data and how you can stay one step ahead.Key Takeaways
  • Be cautious when asked for sensitive information.
  • Verify unexpected requests before responding.
  • Understand common tactics scammers use to gain trust.
  • Protect personal information across all communication channels.
Scammers are always looking for new ways to get to your money. But one thing never changes:Summit Credit Union will NEVER ask for your personal information through an email, online chat, or unsolicited phone call, text or visit. That’s always a red flag, no matter what.What do we mean by personal information? Things like your online banking username or password, one-time passcodes, Social Security number, account number, debit or credit card numbers, CVV, PIN…really anything you’d consider confidential. But those scammers sure can be convincing – even saying they’re from Summit, Microsoft Office, Apple or Amazon and offering very legit-sounding reasons for contacting you. You can stop them by knowing their latest tricks.Heads up on recent Zelle® scamsOne of the latest scams targets you through Zelle, a convenient person-to-person payment feature in your online banking. It’s a great, secure way for you to send money to family and friends, but that certainly doesn’t include fraudsters. Here’s what to watch out for:
  • You receive an unsolicited text about a Zelle payment. It may look like a fraud alert or even show your financial institution’s name. (But you’ll know it’s suspicious if it has links or asks you for personal info – or it’s followed by a call seeking personal details.)
  • If you reply to the text, a scammer calls posing as Summit or other credible organization and asks for your online banking username and password.
  • The caller asks you to read back a passcode to your text or email.
  • The caller uses that passcode to change your online banking password and transfer your money though Zelle.
  • During the call, the scammer may even send a text asking you to authorize a Zelle payment, claiming it will reverse a fraudulent transaction.
You may also be told you need a certain dollar amount in Zelle to send a payment. Not true! Zelle doesn’t have minimum dollar requirements. This is just a scam to get you to send more money via Zelle.What to do (and not do):
  • Don’t reply to unsolicited texts, online chats or emails seeking personal information – and don’t click their links, especially into your online banking.
  • Don’t give out one-time passcodes or your online banking username or password.
  • If an unsolicited caller saying they’re from Summit asks for personal information, hang up. Call us back on our direct line at 800-236-5560 to confirm we’re really trying to reach you.
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Your security is something we take very seriously and we work hard to protect you. If you’re a Summit member and you believe your personal information has been compromised, contact us immediately at 800-236-5560. You might also be interested in Stay alert: Scammers are impersonating Summit with increasingly convincing tactics. Learn the red flags and protect your information... Fraudsters are posing as the FBI or major companies to steal money—never send cash or wires to unknown callers... Summary Unexpected messages can be more than an inconvenience—they can be a scam. Learn how to spot phishing attempts and make confident decisions before... Summary Tax season creates opportunities for scammers looking to steal personal and financial information. Stay alert and protect your identity by recognizing... Hosting dinner parties. Heading to your in-laws’. Hustling to order those perfect gifts. It’s the season for cheer and goodwill, and unfortunately also... Scammers are getting better and better at making fake links look legit. So before you click on that URL (the string of letters that makes up a web address)... Hey there, fellow fraud-fighters! Have five minutes to bust some common myths about scams? Because the more you know, the more you can stop fraudsters... Summary Your Social Security number is one of your most valuable pieces of personal information. Learn how scammers try to access it and what you can... Summary Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities—and new risks. Learn how scammers are using AI tools and stay ahead. Key Takeaways AI can...