Stay Alert. Stay Informed. Stay Protected Against Fraud.
At Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union, we make it a priority to provide our members with the essential knowledge to help them guard against constantly evolving scams, schemes, and the dangers of identity theft. Dive into these educational resources and be proactive in protecting yourself against fraud.
Remember, LVECU will never request personal or financial information (such as account numbers, usernames, passwords, card details or social security numbers) through calls, emails, or texts. You will only be asked for information to verify your identity if you initiate the call to one or our representatives. Do not share sensitive information with unsolicited callers. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the credit union directly.
Fraud Alerts
Caller ID Spoofing Alert
Some members have reported receiving calls that appear to be from LVECU numbers—(610) 820-0145, (610) 435-0601, and (800) 433-0505—due to caller ID spoofing. Scammers, posing as our fraud department, may ask for personal information like your address, Social Security number, card details, or online banking credentials, sometimes claiming they will send a verification link via text.
Never share your personal information with someone who calls you. Hang up and contact the credit union directly.
What is Caller ID Spoofing?
This technique allows callers to disguise their identity by changing the information displayed on their caller ID. They often use familiar numbers to trick you into answering, aiming to steal personal information.
Quick Tips
Digital Banking Alerts
Did you know that you could set up alerts within digital banking to monitor your account activity? Activate alerts sent via email or text for a convenient way to swiftly detect any unusual or suspicious activities, allowing you to take immediate action to safeguard your account.
Password Security
Protect your sensitive data with strong passwords and update them regularly. Do not reuse passwords across multiple sites and keep them confidential. Never share your password with someone claiming to be with tech support or a fraud department.
Use Secure Channels
For specific account inquiries, only send messages via secure messaging through digital banking, never social media or unsecured email. Be sure to use a VPN if you must use public Wi-Fi to access your credit union accounts, as usernames and passwords can be easily compromised on unsecure networks.
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when someone uses your personal identifying information illegally, usually for financial gain.
Stolen information may include:
Name & address
Credit card or bank account numbers
Social Security number
Driver’s license number
Medical insurance account number
Protect yourself from Identity Theft
Shred documents
Use strong passwords
Identify suspicious activity
Do not use unsecured Wi-Fi
Do not give out personal information
Do not answer unknown calls, texts, and or emails
THINK before you click on any links or attachments
What is Online Security?
Online security consists of a range of security tactics for protecting activities and transactions conducted online over the internet to safeguard users from threats such as hacking into computer systems, email addresses, or websites.
Protect yourself with strong passwords:
Make sure the password is 12 or more characters long
Include punctuation marks
Include upper-case and lower-case letters
Use numbers in exchange for letters e.g., 9 instead of g
Avoid memorable keyboard paths, like 123456 or qwerty
Types of Online Security Threats
Malware: Short for "malicious software," malware comes in several forms, including computer viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware.
Computer worm: A computer worm is a software program that copies itself from one computer to the next. It does not require human interaction to create these copies and can spread rapidly and in great volume.
Spam: Spam refers to unwanted messages in your email inbox. In some cases, spam can simply include junk mail that advertises goods or services in which you aren’t interested. These are usually considered harmless, but some can include links that will install malicious software on your computer if they are clicked on.
Phishing: Phishing scams are created by cybercriminals attempting to solicit private or sensitive information by sending an e-mail that appears to be from your bank, internet service provider or other well-known source. They lure you into clicking links to verify details like account information or passwords.
Common Scams
Grandparent
An imposter calls a grandparent pretending to be a grandchild in trouble.
IRS Telephone
A scammer impersonating the IRS calls a victim, telling them that they need to immediately pay taxes that are owed, with a gift card or wire transfer.
Advanced Fee/Lottery
A victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return.
Sweepstakes Recovery
Targets people who have already lost money from a sweepstakes, lottery, or prize scam. They tell you they can help you get your money back or recover the prize you never received for a fee.
Phantom Debt Collection
Fake debt collectors try to trick their victims into paying a debt that doesn’t exist.
Charity
Seek donations for organizations that do little or no work—instead, the money goes to the fake charity's creator.
Romance
Fraudsters create a fake online identity gaining a victim’s trust and affection to steal money from them.
RED FLAGS:
The person you are talking to is far away (In another state or country)
Professes love quickly
Needs money for emergencies, travel, or medical bills
Unemployment Benefit
An imposter files a claim for unemployment benefits using the victim’s name and personal information. The victim realizes this when they get a notice from their state unemployment benefits office or their employer about their application for benefits.
Reshipping
Begins with a job opportunity posted on a job site, dating site, or in a chat room. They send you packages at home and instruct you to discard the original packaging and receipts, repackage the products, and then reship them to an address they give you. They lie to you about getting a paycheck and eventually disconnect from the point of contact.
Social Security
Scammers call and pretend to be someone from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Where to Report:
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Social Security Administration online or by calling (800)-269-0271.
Technical Support Impersonation & Pop-Up
Disguised as warnings such as "ransomware detected" or "system errors." These pop-ups falsely claim the user's device is at risk. They pressure users into paying for fake tech support to fix non-existent problems. Cybercriminals exploit fear of security threats, often leading to financial loss, exposure of personal information, and potential malware installation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI, which mimics human intelligence, can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes. Unfortunately, it is often misused for scams like deepfakes, voice cloning, and fraudulent emails.