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Know the Red Flags of a Scam - Los Angeles, California, United States

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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