Beware of Scammers Impersonating Point Breeze Credit Union, Other Financial Institutions
Even if a call, email, or text message seems like it is legitimate, it is important to always be over-cautious.
Scammers never take a day off and can be quite crafty. They may impersonate people you trust, including your financial institution. Even if a call, email, or text message seems like it is legitimate, it is important to always be over-cautious.
Point Breeze Credit Union or any other legitimate financial institution will never:
- Ask for your account number
- Ask for your password or ask you to reset your password
- Ask for your security code or one-time passcode
- Ask for your credit or debit card numbers
- Ask you to initiate a transaction, including withdrawing funds from your account, or use alternate payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency
What to do if you're unsure
The most cunning of scammers will pull out all the stops to convince you that the call is legit, including making the number on your caller ID appear to be from a trusted source. This is known as “spoofing.” So, trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right, hang up with the caller, find the legitimate phone number of the financial institution and call them back.
How to protect yourself
Scammers work full time at defrauding you. Here are some key ways to avoid becoming a victim:
- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Even if you’re emotionally invested in what’s happening, take the time to stop and think before you act.
- Use caution when clicking links or opening email attachments – unless you know the person, you should avoid it.
- Verify the person’s legitimacy by hanging up or not responding. On your own, locate and contact them through their official email address or phone number.
- Be suspicious of anyone asking for money, particularly a method that can’t be reversed or cancelled like gift cards or wire transfers
- Watch out for the "fear" factor. Urgency is a favorite tactic of fraudsters. If someone is pressuring or threatening you, there's a good chance they are trying to scam you.
- Use unique, complex passwords to help keep your online accounts secure, and never share them with anyone.
- Block unwanted calls and text messages.
Your security is our priority
At Point Breeze, you are more than just an account number...you're our member! That means our dedicated Point Breeze employees are working behind the scenes to keep your personal data safe and deliver the latest measures in online security.
As a reminder, Point Breeze Credit Union will never call, email or text our members for account numbers, passwords, or card numbers. If you ever question the validity of a “Point Breeze” contact, please call us at 410.584.7228 for further guidance.
Tips to help fight fraud
- Regularly monitor your accounts with online and mobile banking.
- Protect your online accounts with strong passwords, utilizing a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Use your debit and credit cards with caution – avoid machines that show signs of tampering and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
- Keep your contact info up to date so Point Breeze can contact you regarding suspicious transaction activity.
- Recognize and avoid common scam tactics like the ones described in our Security Center.