Staying Vigilant Against Phone-Based Scammers
Few of us can imagine a day without using our cellphones. For many people, it has become their preferred method of communication and conducting business. Scammers take advantage of our reliance on cellphones to trick us into divulging our personal information. It's crucial to be aware of the kinds of scams they employ.
One common scam is phishing. Scammers "phish" by sending emails or text messages that claim to be from legitimate organizations, such as credit unions, with the aim of obtaining your private information.
These phishing scams can take two forms: vishing and smishing attacks. Both aim to trick people into revealing their Social Security numbers, credit union account numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, and more. Typically, these messages use scare tactics to induce panic and prompt quick actions. For example, they might threaten that your account will be terminated unless you act immediately.
The term "vishing" combines "voice" and "phishing." This involves fraudsters pretending to be from a company or financial institution, calling you and requesting that you provide or confirm personal information. For instance, they may send a recorded message claiming that your credit card has been used illegally and ask you to call an 800 number to confirm account details. Your answers are then saved and later used for identity theft.
The term "smishing" combines "SMS" (short message service, or text messaging) and "phishing." In smishing, the scammer attempts to obtain your information through text messages rather than phone calls.
A common smishing ploy goes like this: You receive a text message, seemingly from your credit union, stating that your account has been closed. To reactivate it, you're instructed to click on a provided link. Once you do, you're asked to enter your account number and PIN. Sometimes, clicking the link may also install malware on your phone.
It's essential to never click on links or call phone numbers listed in messages from unexpected or unfamiliar sources. The best protection against vishing or smishing is a simple strategy: Don't respond.
In the case of a vishing scam, refuse to answer questions and hang up. If it's a smishing attack, avoid following the instructions in the text message. If the scammer claims to be from Garden Savings Federal Credit Union, please call us immediately at 973-576-2000 to report the incident and consider blocking the number on your phone.
Garden Savings Federal Credit Union understands the importance of reaching out to our members through SMS and phone for essential notifications and personalized service. However, we prioritize your online security. To ensure a safe online experience, we employ state-of-the-art security measures to protect against the replication of our website. When visiting our website, always look for 'https' at the beginning of the URL to verify that you're on our legitimate site. Rest assured, we use text messages only for specific, knowledge-based interactions and will never request confirmation of your social security number or PIN through text. Your safety and trust are our top priorities.
We will never ask for your personal information over the phone or via email since we already have this information. If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a message purportedly from us, please call us directly at 973-576-2000 to verify its authenticity. Your security and trust mean the world to us.
Garden Savings Federal Credit Union
The local credit union in your neighborhood.
