How to Protect Yourself from Fraud

Ten years ago, many scams were easy to spot.

Today’s scams are different.

Fraudsters can spoof phone numbers, use information found online and create convincing stories that make even cautious people stop and question what they’re hearing.

That’s why understanding how modern scams work is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

Recognize the Threat

Imagine a stranger approaching you in a parking lot saying:

“I’m from the IRS. You owe thousands in back taxes, but if you pay me right now, I can make the problem disappear.”

Or:

“I’m from the Sheriff’s Office. Your family member has been arrested, but I can help get them released immediately if you send money now.”

Or even:

“I’m from your credit union. I noticed suspicious activity on your card. To protect your account, I just need you to confirm your card number and security code.”

Most people would immediately recognize these situations as suspicious.

So why do similar scams work over the phone, through text messages, emails, and pop-up notifications? Because fraudsters are skilled at creating urgency, building trust, and making their stories sound believable.

Verify Before You Trust

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and often sound knowledgeable, professional, and trustworthy. They may:

• Know your full name, phone number, or address.
• Reference real organizations.
• Mention public information about you or your family.
• Use official-sounding titles and credentials.
• Transfer you to a ​“manager” or ​“supervisor.”

Remember: Having information about you does not prove someone is legitimate.

Whenever you receive an unexpected call involving money, personal information, accounts, legal matters or urgent requests, assume the caller may not be who they claim to be until you verify independently.

What You Should Do

1. Ask for the caller’s name and organization.
2. End the conversation.
3. Look up the organization’s official contact information yourself.
4. Call the organization directly using a verified phone number.

Legitimate representatives will understand and support your decision to verify their identity. A scammer will often try to prevent you from hanging up or provide reasons why you cannot call back.

Understand How Fraud Alerts Typically Work

Many financial institutions use automated fraud monitoring systems to help identify potentially suspicious card activity.

Depending on your financial institution, you may receive:

• A text message describing the transaction and asking you to reply ​“Yes” or ​“No.”
• An automated phone call if the text message is not answered.

If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from your financial institution’s fraud department, it’s reasonable to pause and contact your financial institution directly using a trusted phone number. If you are a member of Campus Federal, you can contact us directly using the phone number on the back of your card or through official contact information at Cam​pus​Fed​er​al​.org.

Did You Know Caller ID Can Be Faked?

Many people do not realize that fraudsters can spoof caller ID information.

This means scammers can make it appear as though a call is coming from Campus Federal or another trusted organization. Seeing Campus Federal’s phone number on your screen does not guarantee the call is legitimate.

If someone asks you to trust them solely because the caller ID appears legitimate, consider that a warning sign. Caller ID information can be manipulated.

Be careful when sharing card information!

Fraudsters may try to convince you that they already have most of your card number. For example, they may read the first six or eight digits of your card and claim it proves they have access to your account. Those digits are known as the Bank Identification Number (BIN) and are shared across many cards of the same type.

You should be cautious any time someone unexpectedly asks for:

• Your full card number.
• Specific portions of your card number.
• Your card security code (CVV/CVC).
• Sensitive account information as a condition for resolving an urgent issue.
• Sensitive account information simply because a card has been blocked.

Common Fraud Tactics to Watch Out For

Most scammers don’t start by asking for money or sensitive information. Instead, they focus on building trust and creating urgency.

They attempt to:

• Establish credibility by sounding professional and knowledgeable.
• Present a believable scenario involving your finances, account security, taxes or a family emergency.
• Position themselves as someone trying to help you.
• Pressure you to act immediately before you have time to think or verify.

Common phrases include:

• “Your account is at risk.”
• “Your card has been compromised.”
• “Law enforcement action is pending.”
• “This offer expires today.”

Once trust is established, they may ask for information, passwords, account details or immediate payment. Anytime someone pressures you to make an immediate decision, share information, or send money, take a step back and verify independently before proceeding.

Never Pay Using Gift Cards or Cryptocurrency

One of the biggest red flags in fraud schemes is being asked to make payment using:

• Gift cards
• Cryptocurrency or Bitcoin kiosks
• Wire transfers
• Peer-to-peer payment apps such as Cash App or Zelle®

No legitimate government agency, law enforcement office, financial institution or major company will require you to pay a debt or fee using gift cards. If someone tells you to buy gift cards to resolve a problem, pay a fee or settle a debt, it’s almost certainly a scam.

Stay Alert for Text Message Scams

Fraudsters often use phone calls and text messages together to gain access to your accounts.

Scam Example #1: One-Time Passcodes

A caller may say:

“I’m sending a six-digit code to verify your identity. Please read it back to me.”

What is really happening?

The fraudster may be attempting to:

• Reset your online banking password.
• Add your card to a digital wallet.
• Access an account protected by multi-factor authentication.

The code is intended for you only.

Never share one-time passcodes with anyone.

Scam Example #2: Fraud Alert Approval

A caller may say:

“I’m sending a sample fraud alert message. Reply ​‘Yes’ so you can enroll in the program.”

In this case, the fraudster has started using your card and the text message is from a legitimate fraud monitoring system asking whether a transaction was authorized.

By responding ​“Yes”, you are telling the system that you authorized the fraudulent transactions. This could then allow the fraudsters to perform more transactions.

Always read alerts carefully and contact your financial institution directly if you’re uncertain.

Watch Out for Fake Tech Support Pop-Ups

Another common scam begins with a pop-up on your phone or computer claiming to be from Apple, Microsoft or a security software company.

The message may say your device is infected or compromised and provides a phone number to call.

This is a major red flag.

Do not click on the pop-up or call the number provided in the message. If you’re unsure whether it’s real or not, reach out to the company directly. A few minutes spent verifying can save you from a major financial loss.

Quick Safety Checklist

✅ Be cautious of unexpected calls, texts, emails and pop-ups.
✅ Verify organizations independently before sharing information.
✅ Hang up and call back using a trusted phone number.
✅ Never share one-time passcodes.
✅ Never provide card security codes.
✅ Never pay with gift cards or cryptocurrency because someone instructed you to do so.
✅ Remember that caller ID can be spoofed.
✅ Share scam awareness tips with family and friends.

At Campus Federal, protecting our members is a top priority. Staying informed and taking a moment to verify before acting can help keep your accounts, identity and finances safe from increasingly sophisticated scams.