Member Security Awareness: Imposter Scams

At Mazuma Credit Union, the security of our Members’ financial information and accounts is our top priority. As your trusted financial partner, we closely monitor the evolving risks our Members face in today’s digital world – from phishing and social engineering scams to identity fraud, cybersecurity threats, and beyond. We proactively share information to empower our Members to identify and avoid potential threats that can compromise the security of their data.

Financial Institution Imposter Scams

Financial institution imposter scams are on the rise, and they can be alarmingly convincing. In this type of imposter scam, fraudsters pretend to be from your credit union or bank. They used spoofed (faked) phone numbers, official-sounding language, and urgent messages to try to trick you into handing over personal or financial information.

Here’s how these scams typically work:

You receive a phone call, text, or email claiming there's suspicious activity on your account. You're asked to confirm your account number, PIN, password, or even a one-time verification code. In some recent cases, fraudsters have attempted to arrange payment of “fees” through third-party platforms like Zelle, or even to pick up debit cards, claiming they will be replaced with new ones.

Once the scammer has your information, they may be able to access your account or steal your identity.

Tips for Keeping Your Accounts Secure

How can you keep your personal and account information secure?

1. Never share personal info via phone, text, or email unless you initiated the contact. Your financial institution will never ask for sensitive information this way.
2. Hang up and call back using the official number on your financial institution’s website or card—not the number that contacted you.
3. Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.
4. Use strong, unique passwords and update them regularly.
5. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and report anything unusual immediately.

Staying alert and informed is your best defense against this new generation of fraud. A little skepticism can go a long way toward keeping your accounts safe!

The Bottom Line

We remind Members to always exercise caution when contacted by anyone asking for their cards or personal information.

Mazuma Credit Union will never call, text, or email you asking for personally identifiable information (social security numbers, secure access codes, passwords/pin numbers, card numbers, or account numbers), ask you to provide us your card, or instruct you to send money through a third-party vendor (PayPal, Venmo, etc.).

If you are unsure whether an email, phone call, or text message is from Mazuma, please call us directly at 913-574-5000 so that we can assist you.

If you suspect a scam, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.

Check out Mazuma’s Member Security Center for more information!

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