Phishing and Smishing Scams
In today’s digital age, cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. At Volt Credit Union, your security is our top priority. One of the most common and dangerous threats we see is phishing and smishing scams.
What Are Phishing and Smishing?
Phishing involves fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in electronic communications. It often occurs through email but can also happen via websites, ads, or pop-up messages.
Smishing is a variation of phishing that involves text messages (SMS). Just like phishing, smishing scams aim to trick you into revealing personal information or clicking on malicious links.
Recognizing Phishing and Smishing Attempts:
Common Signs of a Phishing Email:
- Unusual Sender Address: The sender’s email address doesn’t match the company’s domain.
- Generic Greetings: Use of non-personalized greetings like “Dear Customer.”
- Urgency or Threats: Be wary of messages that contain urgent threats, too-good-to-be-true offers, or requests for sensitive information.
- Suspicious Links or Attachments: Links that do not lead to the company’s official website or attachments with strange file extensions.
- Spelling and Grammar Mistakes: Often time phishing messages will have obvious grammatical errors.
Common Signs of a Smishing Message:
- Unknown Number: Messages from numbers that are not in your contact list.
- Strange Links: Links that look odd or do not match the company’s URL.
- Urgent Requests: Messages asking you to act quickly to avoid a penalty or claim a reward.
What to Do if You Suspect a Scam
- Don’t Respond: Do not reply to the message or provide any personal information.
- Report It: Report phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at re************@ap**.org and forward smishing messages to 7726 (SPAM).
- Contact Us: If you believe you’ve been targeted or have provided sensitive information, contact Volt Credit Union immediately during business hours at 417-862-0471 so we can help protect your account. Additionally, as a precaution, you have the option to block your card within your online banking services.
Please note, Volt will not call members or text them asking for their online banking credentials or passwords or other account information. Additionally, our Fraud Center does not ask members to verify their card number or their one-time PIN (OTP), as we have this information.
Our Commitment to Your Safety
Volt Credit Union is committed to safeguarding your personal information and providing you with the tools and knowledge to protect yourself from scams. Together, we can ensure your financial security in the digital world.