Spot the Fraud and Stay Safe
In 2020, more than 2.2 million consumer fraud reports were filed. Stay vigilant and learn how to spot the fraud to keep your information safe. It’s important to note, Black Hills Federal Credit Union will never ask for your personal information via email, text, or phone.
What to Watch For
These are the main offenders to keep an eye out for. Remember, if it doesn’t feel right in your gut, there’s a good chance it isn’t.
- Malicious phishing email links (always hover first to see where the link goes)
- Fake profiles on social and dating sites
- Invalid websites (verify URLs are not malicious at bbb.org)
- Offers that sound too good to be true
- Fake charities
BHFCU will not call asking for your Online Banking username, password or one-time passcodes sent to your phone.
What You Can Do
There are so many ways to protect yourself online and safeguard your accounts. Here are a few we think are most important.
- Keep your software and virus protection current.
- Create strong passwords. Consider using a password-management system to keep track.
- Avoid logging in to personal accounts from a public place or when using public Wi-Fi. When you must use a shared device, follow these tips.
- Dispose of old computers. Use programs to overwrite or wipe the hard drive.
- Question emails from senders you do not know and never provide personal information via email.
- Monitor your account activity and set up account alerts so you can spot potential fraud immediately. Call us if you ever see a suspicious transaction on your account.
- Shred any documents containing personal information. We host a Shred Day every spring free to members!
Where to Reference
Knowing where to look is half the battle. Below are several resources we think are top-notch to help stay informed about fraud and security breaches.
- Learn more about common and current scams, next steps if you were scammed, and how to report scams with the FTC.
- For more localized information, visit the BBB and look for the 'Scam Tracker' to review recent scam activity in your area.
- Located in South Dakota, Black Hills Information Security is a nationally recognized cybersecurity company. At BHFCU, we reference their blog for fraud and security tips.
- When in doubt, when you want to learn more about fraud prevention, the National Consumers League’s fraud.org is an excellent resource.
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