Recently, we were alerted to a scam attempt involving an individual impersonating an AlaTrust Credit Union employee. In this case, a member received a call from someone claiming to be from our Fraud Prevention department. The caller used “Caller ID Spoofing” to make our main phone number appear as where they are calling from, though they called from a different number. They falsely claimed there were fraudulent items on the member’s account. The fraudster also sent emails and texts that appear legitimate with an urgent message and a link. Our member rightfully followed the below instructions and was able to keep their account safe.
Please remember the following to protect yourself from similar scams:
Verify Caller/Emailer Identity: If you receive a call or message claiming to be from AlaTrust Credit Union, and it seems suspicious, hang up immediately and contact us directly at the official number you have on file, or the number listed on our website. Do not use any phone numbers provided by the caller. Always check the exact email address you have received a message from. All AlaTrust employees’ emails end in “@alatrustcu.com”
Sensitive Information: AlaTrust will never ask for your full Social Security number, debit card number, or any other sensitive personal information over the phone. Be cautious if someone asks for this information.
Look for Red Flags: Be wary of unsolicited requests for your email address, passwords, urgent request to click links, or other personal information. If someone claims that your email has been deleted from our system or asks you to verify your account details, it’s a good idea to reach out to us directly to confirm.
Take Immediate Action: If you suspect that you’ve been targeted by a scam, please contact us immediately. We can take steps to secure your account, such as changing your account numbers, adding password protection, and blocking any unauthorized transactions.
Report the Incident: If you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam, we encourage you to file a police report. This helps authorities track and address fraudulent activities.
Your security is our top priority. We are committed to protecting your personal and financial information and are here to help anytime you want to verify a request. We will never be upset with you for being extra cautious, in fact, we encourage it!