Blog

NCUA Credit Union Express

Deposits Are Safe in Federally Insured Credit Unions

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 19, 2020) – The National Credit Union Administration is reminding credit union members of the safety of their deposits in federally insured credit unions. The NCUA also reminds individuals to remain vigilant against COVID-19-related scams.

Federally insured credit unions offer a safe place for credit union members to save money. All deposits at federally insured credit unions are protected by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, with deposits insured up to at least $250,000 per individual depositor. Credit union members have never lost a penny of insured savings at a federally insured credit union. Additional information on NCUA share insurance coverage for consumers is available at MyCreditUnion.gov.

The NCUA is also reminding individuals to remain vigilant against scams related to the coronavirus. Cyber actors may send emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to COVID-19. Visit NCUA’s Fraud Prevention Center for more information about frauds and scams, including how to report a scam.

With scam artists hard at work all year, taxpayers should watch for new versions of tax-related scams. One such scam involves fake property liens. It threatens taxpayers with a tax bill from a fictional government agency.

Here are some details about the property lien scam that will help taxpayers recognize it:

• This scheme involves a letter threatening an IRS lien or levy.
• The scammer mails the letter to a taxpayer.
• The lien or levy is based on bogus overdue taxes owed to a non-existent agency.
• The non-existent agencies might have a legitimate-sounding name like the “Bureau of Tax Enforcement.” There is no such agency.
• This scam may also reference the IRS to confuse potential victims into thinking the letter is from a real agency.

For anyone who doesn’t owe taxes and has no reason to think they do should:

• Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the letter. The taxpayer should use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page. When reporting the scam, they should include the key words “IRS Lien.”
• Scan a document received as a letter or fax, and send it to phishing@irs.gov. 
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov.
• Report it also to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, known simply as IC3.

Taxpayers who do owe tax or think they might owe should:

• Review their tax account information and payment options at IRS.gov. Reviewing tax account information online will show the taxpayer if they indeed owe the IRS and how much. This is the fastest way to get this information.
• Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to confirm the notice if they’re still not sure they owe.

It has been brought to our attention that there is a scam going around that someone from Amazon is calling asking the callers to verify an Amazon purchase. Do Not Ever give out personal and financial information over the phone without verifying the phone call is legit. The best thing to do is hang up and call Amazon back and talk to someone.

If you’ve moved recently (or are planning to soon), please don’t forget to inform us of your new address. That way, you can be sure to receive all account information in a timely manner and avoid getting a returned mail fee of $5.00. Plus, don’t forget the kids! If your children have accounts here, we will need to update your address on their accounts, too.

Be aware that, given the sensitive nature of your financial information, if you completed a change of address request at the post office, your statements and other account information will not be automatically forwarded to you.  You must contact Mountain Laurel Federal Credit Union directly to ensure that all of your financial information is sent to the appropriate address. Also, please be sure we have your current email address and phone number. Thank you for your cooperation!

Know how to protect yourself and your account

A phone scam is increasingly being reported around the country and locally, targeting your debit card information. And when the scammers are successful at getting the details they’re digging for, they can use it to make large withdrawals from your checking account.

How the phone call starts

The gist is this—you get a phone call with the caller pretending to be with your bank or credit union’s fraud department. The caller is likely using a spoofed phone number so the incoming number looks legitimate. The caller explains that possible fraudulent activity occurred on your card, and they provide you with fake transaction details so you believe your card was compromised. Under the guise of verifying your identity and helping you get a new card, the caller will attempt to gain your personal information and private banking information.

Identify the major red flags of a scam

It’s not always easy to identify a phone call as a scam from the start—successful scammers will use many tools to appear legitimate. But when it comes time to gain the information that they need from you, there are some common major warning signs.

Red Flags to STOP the Call and Hang Up:

1. The caller asks for your card PIN.
   Never provide your PIN to anyone—verbally or with your phone keypad. There is no valid reason that a caller will ever request your card PIN.
2. The caller asks you to provide your online banking ID or password.
3. The caller asks you to provide your card or CVV number.

Approach incoming calls with caution

Even if you think you will never fall for a scam, always be cautious with information that you provide to an incoming caller. One simple step you can take to protect yourself is to hang up and call the business back at a number you know and trust—such as the phone number provided on the back of your debit or credit card or on your account statement. Do not redial from the incoming call or use any other number provided by the caller.

Contact us with any questions or concerns

If you have any questions about this information, we encourage you to speak with a Mountain Laurel FCU representative to learn more. If you suspect that you may have given information to a possible scammer, it is important to contact usso we can take measures to help you protect your information and account.