Phishing occurs when criminals try to get us to open harmful links, emails or attachments that could request our personal information or infect our devices. Phishing messages or “bait” usually come in the form of an email, text, direct message on social media or phone call. These messages are often designed to look like they come from a trusted person or organization, to get us to respond. Look for these common phishing signs:

• Urgent or emotionally appealing language, especially messages that claim dire consequences for not responding immediately

• Requests to send personal and financial information

• Untrusted shortened URLs

• Incorrect email addresses or links, like amazan.com instead of amazon.com

Phone Calls and Text Messages

Telephone fraud can occur with cell phones or land lines. Typically, the caller poses as a representative from a bank, or another financial institution, and illegally tries to collect your personal information. UNCLE will never call members via telephone or cell phone to request personal information such as bank account numbers, debit or credit card numbers, expiration dates or personal identification numbers.

Online and Your Mobile Device

Internet fraud, or "phishing" often takes the form of emails or internet pop-up boxes that ask you for personal financial information. Typical messages include requests to verify your account numbers, PINs and/or passwords. UNCLE will never initiate requests for personal and/or account information via the Internet.

ATMs and Transactions

Thieves have learned to install devices called "Skimmers" on ATMs and Point of Sale machines that collect your card information.
If you believe you have become a victim of fraud:

·         Contact UNCLE Credit Union immediately

·         File a complaint with your local police department, Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center

Strong, secure passwords are the most effective ways to safeguard your personal and financial information. Weak passwords are a common vulnerability that fraudsters exploit to gain unauthorized access to your accounts. Some essential guidelines for creating a strong password include:

• Prioritize Password Length: Use passwords that are at least 10 characters long. The longer your password, the harder it is for cybercriminals to crack.

• Mix Characters: Combine upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters to create a complex password.

• Avoid Common Words and Phrases: Refrain from using easily guessable passwords like "password123" or personal information such as your name or birthdate.

• Unique Passwords for Each Account: Do not reuse passwords across multiple sites. If one account is compromised, others can be at risk.

• Regular Updates: Change your passwords regularly to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Typical information scammers are looking for includes:

•  ATM card, credit card and debit card numbers

• Card expiration dates and security codes

• Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords

• Social Security numbers and other personal details (birth dates, addresses, and clues to common passwords)