Know the red flags of a scam
Many fraudsters will target you using scams such as fake emails, text messages, voice calls, letters, or even face-to-face interactions.
Be aware and be ready
To help you stay safe from potential scams, it's important to be aware of scenarios that fraudsters often use:
- Pressuring you to send money
- Telling you you've won a sweepstakes or lottery you didn't enter, or that you're owed money from a class-action lawsuit
- Threatening you with law enforcement action
- Asking you to pay upfront taxes or fees - either foreign or domestic
- Asking you to purchase gift cards and provide the codes as a form of payment
- Asking you to cash a check for a stranger or send money via wire transfer or Zelle
- Scammers pressuring you to act now; they don't want you to take the time to do research or to think too carefully before parting with your money
- Requesting you to respond to questions in untruthful ways
- A person claiming to be a government official contacts you to confirm your windfall. The emails sent may even appear to be from real government email addresses, but if you look further, the email is not from a ".gov" email.
These are just some of the common scenarios that UCU has been made aware of relating to fraudsters. It is important to remember that if you authorize a transfer or send money to a fraudster, it may be difficult to be reimbursed.
Concerned you're a victim of fraud?
Call us at 800.UCU.4510 to report it immediately! We'll review your account with you and assist with any security questions.
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University Credit Union offers membership to employees, students and alumni of UCLA, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara University, Saint Mary's College, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC San Diego, Georgia Tech, University of Texas at Arlington, Mount St. Mary's University, Chabot College and Las Positas College, West Coast Conference Universities, The Big West Universities, Western Athletic Conference Universities, Southland Conference Universities, and other universities throughout California. UCU offers a variety of products and services including checking accounts, credit cards, home mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, commercial loans, insurance, investments, as well as digital banking.
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