We Keep Your Information Secure

We’ve recently uncovered a concerning trend in the realm of online security: a sophisticated phishing kit designed to exploit credit union members through Zelle transactions. Zelle, a widely trusted platform, has become the latest target for cybercriminals aiming to steal sensitive personal information. Rather than replicating a credit union’s website to trick users into divulging login credentials, this scam presents itself as a notification about a pending Zelle payment. Users are directed to a fake Zelle site hosted on platforms like Cloudflare pages[.]dev. Upon clicking, they encounter a message prompting them to select their financial institution to receive the payment.

The opening screen on the Zelle website tells the user they have money waiting for them and to select a financial institution.

Once a user selects their credit union, they’re assured that Zelle services are available and encouraged to proceed. The scam further deceives victims by customizing panels with the credit union’s branding, enhancing its credibility.

We urge you to be cautious when using Zelle! Be wary of suspicious requests. Zelle setup should be conducted through our online and mobile banking channels, and any unusual requests should raise immediate red flags.

One of the top scams being perpetuated these days is the Copycat Bank Fraud scam. Fraudsters are making fake accounts and profiles that look like legitimate banking sites in an effort to scam people out of their money. We urge you to be careful when contacting us to be sure you are using independently sourced information and to not give out personally identifying information before doing so.

Click here to read the full report from the FTC.

Velocity Community Credit Union offers automated fraud alerts by text to your cell phone letting you know when suspicious transactions have occurred. You can act immediately to confirm or deny the transaction, shutting down a compromised card or  confirming a valid transaction and keeping your card open.

Please note that if you receive these text messages, they are legitimate, but we always encourage our members to take their cyber security seriously. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to us at (800) 872-4517 for more information. We will still be contacting you through automated phone calls and email, as well.

• Velocity Community will never call you to request information you received via text (SMS) or pressure you to reset your online banking log in password
• Don’t trust caller ID; Caller ID could be spoofed to show Velocity Community
• Don’t provide your online banking log in credentials, one-time password, account number, or personal information by email or text or phone call. Using their published phone number, reach out to Velocity Community to confirm that the request is legitimate
• Don’t give information over the phone if you receive a call stating that a transaction is canceled, even if the caller claims to be from Velocity Community. Once again, contact your financial institution using a published phone number to inquire about the transaction.
• Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails or texts
• Don’t give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer

Cryptocurrency is a digital currency individuals use to make quick payments to avoid transaction fees or they invest in it, hoping to have the value increase. With cryptocurrency scams, scammers are using a lot of similar manipulation tactics you see in other scams, but demanding to be paid in cryptocurrency. The scammers are tricking victims by impersonating business, government agencies, love interests, and more. To avoid these scams, be wary of anyone demanding payment in cryptocurrency, guaranteeing big returns on your investment, or mixing love with investment advice. Head to the Federal Trade Commission to learn more.

If you receive a phone call, text, or e-mail purporting to be from Apple Support or Microsoft Support, DO NOT provide any account information. Disconnect from the call and call the company directly but not from the number that is appearing on your call. There should never be a scenario where any support team should require you to buy a gift card to resolve any problem.

Caller ID Spoofing, or spoofing for short, is an attempt to trick people into thinking they are being contacted by a company they know, such as a bank or credit union, when they are actually being targeted for fraud. Fraudsters use software to make the caller ID show the number you know rather than the one from which they are actually calling. Once the impersonator gains access to the victim’s accounts or information, they can use it for their own gain, such as making unauthorized transactions, opening new accounts, or stealing sensitive data.

It has come to our attention that Velocity Community Credit Union’s phone number has been spoofed in recent fraud attempts and impersonation fraud is on the rise in our area!

How You Can Protect Yourself

You will not receive calls from Velocity Community Credit Union representatives asking you to provide detailed account or online banking information over the phone. Here are some other helpful tips to help prevent fraud.

• We will never contact you using the (800) 872-4517 number.
• We will only call you during normal business hours.
• We will not ask you for confidential information over a phone call initiated by us.
• We will not ask you for a multi-factor authentication (MFA) code or for your login credentials.
• If you receive a call claiming to be from Velocity Community and you feel that it is suspicious, hang up and call us back at one of our published phone numbers (561-775-2525 or 800-872-4517).

Here are some general tips from the FCC to avoid spoofing scams:

• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers.
• If you answer the phone and the caller or a recording asks you to push a number to stop getting calls, hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
• Never respond to questions, especially those that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”
• Never give out personal identification information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords, or other unique identifying information during an unsolicited call.
• If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up. Call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company’s or government agency’s website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, mainly if the caller is asking for a payment.
• Talk to your phone company about call blocking tools they may have and check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls. Information on available robocall blocking tools is available at fcc.gov/robocalls.
• Set a password for your voicemail.

Help us keep your accounts secure! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

We will never use email to ask for sensitive information.

Any sensitive information we collect on our website will be done behind the Online Banking Login using SSL-protected pages.

If you receive an email claiming to be from Velocity Community Credit Union, a government agency, or other company, that asks for your personal or financial information. PLEASE do not reply or click on any links that may be embedded in the email.

We ask that you forward suspicious emails immediately to: [email protected]

If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. That is frequently the case with many scams that are being run on the internet.

The FTC has a site, OnGuardOnline, that offers tips to help you stay safe and secure online. They also have videos and games for more interactive learning.

Federal law requires each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to give you a free credit report every 12 months if you ask for it. You should ask one of the three companies every four months for your credit report.
www.annualcreditreport.com

• National Consumers League

• New Resource for ID Theft Victims

• Slam the Door on Phishing Scams

• How to Spot What’s Legit and What’s a Scam?

• Personal Safety Tips

• Get Smart Protect Your Smart Phone

• Report Internet Scams

• ATM and Debit Card Safety

• Mobile Phone Security