We have seen a recent rise in check cashing scams where the scammers are cashing physical checks using stolen identity markers such as IDs, credit cards, etc. This has sometimes followed a car break-in, during which personal items are stolen.
If you happen to have a similar instance or have any forms of ID stolen from you, we encourage you to contact us at 802-658-0225 so that we can help prevent similar fraudulent incidents.
Card skimming is a method that thieves use to collect credit and debit card data at gas pumps, ATM’s, retail shops, etc. A card skimmer is a device that is affixed on top of a card reader that records card data and may potentially have a small camera that records victims entering in pin numbers. Since these skimmers are on top of the card reader, they often may appear to stick out beyond the machine or cover other parts of the card reader.
At gas pumps where skimmers are most prevalent, it is important to inspect the area around the card reader to see if the security tape has been tampered with. If a card reader is loose, appears different than others, or the buttons are hard to push, do not use the reader and notify someone in the store.
If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Member Services team at 802-658-0225.
We are aware of a recurring scam in which members receive a phone call that claims to come from Vermont Federal Credit Union’s 802-658-0225 phone number. During these calls, the scammers will often reference publicly available information such as phone numbers, email addresses, or street addresses. They may present the first 5 to 8 digits of your card number and request that you verify the remaining number.
We will NEVER ask for your full debit or credit card numbers, personal identification numbers, Online/Mobile banking credentials, or one-time password.
If you receive a call claiming to be Vermont Federal Credit Union that asks for any of the information listed above, DO NOT provide any information. Hang up and call us directly at 1-888-252-0202 to report it to our security team.
We are aware of a text message scam in which members receive an SMS Text indicating that "Your Vermont FCU Account is Placed on Hold for Security Reasons." The text indicates to visit a URL to "Restore Access." The URL listed is fraudulent and not associated with Vermont Federal Credit Union.
If you receive one of these texts, please be aware that this is a scam. You can delete the text, and there is no action required of you. Vermont Federal Credit Union is not associated with the URL "vermontfcu.online".
If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Member Services team at 802-658-0225.
We are aware of a “Home Warranty Renewal” scam in which members receive a mailer indicating that their home warranty may be expiring or may have already expired and to take action. The mailer indicates to call 1-800-301-5412 to renew the home warranty and provides a “Renewal Fee Voucher” for a specified amount of money at the bottom
These letters create a sense of urgency, using words like “final notice,” or “you are at risk.” This is done on purpose, in the hopes that you will contact them thinking there is a real issue, when in reality, it’s fraudulent. Your name, address and lender information is found through public records from the town in which you reside.
If you receive one of these letters, please be aware that this is a scam. You can discard the letter and there is no action required of you. Vermont Federal Credit Union is not associated with Home Warranty Direct.
If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Member Services team at 802-658-0225
Cybercriminals exploit financial institution failures as well as other major events that produce uncertainty in order to commit fraud. The run on and subsequent failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has led to a dramatic increase in phishing emails, SVB lookalike websites, and social engineering attempts. These criminal schemes have been found to involve communications requesting a change in wiring instructions, payment methods or payroll changes as a result of the SVB collapse. These illegitimate communications come across as urgent and aim to elicit a response. Use caution around unsolicited requests for personal/financial information surrounding the SVB failure.
The season of giving is here. For many, holiday giving includes supporting charitable causes. Make your donation count by avoiding end-of-year charity scams. Here are some steps to make sure a charity is real and your money will support the programs you care about.
The two most prevalent holiday scams this holiday season are non-delivery & nonpayment crimes, costing consumers more than $265 million.
In today's electronic age, it's extremely important to be careful when doing business online or over the telephone. We are aware of a recurring scam in which members receive a text or phone call that claims to come from Vermont Federal Credit Union.
We will NEVER ask for your Online/Mobile banking credentials, one-time password, full debit or credit card numbers, or personal identification numbers – even if the text message provides one. DO NOT provide this information in response to a call, text, or email.
If you receive a text or call claiming to be Vermont Federal Credit Union that asks for any of the information listed above, do not respond. Hang up and call us directly at 1-888-252-0202 to report it to our security team.
October is national cybersecurity awareness month. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) take the month of October to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally.
This year’s theme is: “See Yourself in Cyber.”
Cybersecurity may seem complex, but it is all about people having the information and resources they need to make informed cyber-related decisions. As an individual, employee, or consumer, and no matter what role you play, CISA and NCA call on all of us to take the basic steps to protect our online information and privacy.
For October, we will post weekly on social media to raise awareness around cybersecurity and highlight a few simple ways to help secure our digital lives.
When a cybercriminal is looking to gain access to your account, they have a few different options:
One simple trick to make your password stronger is to add spaces. These spaces turn your average password into what is called a "passphrase". Passphrases are strong and much harder to crack. For example: the random passphrase “accent most tricycle vigorous”. To crack that passphrase, it would take 1,895,349 centuries!
STOP
Resist taking immediate action when receiving an email or text. Don’t click links without first inspecting the sender, message and link itself.
LOOK
Analyze the message and look for anything unusual.
THINK
Follow your gut! If something seems “Phishy,” report it straightaway to your IT Staff (if at work) or simply delete it.
Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud. Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite. They also usually have financial savings, own a home and have good credit - all of which makes them attractive to scammers.
Protect yourself and your family from various forms of internet fraud.
Learn more about how to protect your computer from intrusion
Our personal information is in the hands of many businesses and data breaches are happening more frequently. If your information was stolen in a data breach, visit the FTC's identity theft help website for specific steps to take.
Romance scams happen when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate or steal from the victim. These “relationships” may go on for some time before the scammer attempts to get money from the victim.
A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else. Some money mules know they are supporting criminal enterprises, but most don’t know that they’re doing anything wrong.
The FBI warns consumers that criminal perpetrators may post fraudulent online classified advertisements offering vehicles for sale that are not, nor have ever been, in their possession.
The fake advertisements usually include photos matching the description of the vehicle and a phone number or e-mail address to contact the supposed seller. Once contact is established, the criminal sends the intended buyer additional photos along with an explanation for the discounted price and the urgency of the transaction.
Identity theft is when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. They might steal your name and address, credit card, or bank account numbers, Social Security number, or medical insurance account numbers. And they could use them to:
• Buy things with your credit cards
• Get new credit cards in your name
• Open a phone, electricity, or gas account in your name
• Steal your tax refund
• Use your health insurance to get medical care
• Pretend to be you if they are arrested
If you’re looking for a way to help, the FTC urges you to be cautious of potential charity scams. Do some research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization that will use the money as promised.
Illegitimate links or manipulated search engine results can take you to malicious pages that can seemingly lock your browser, install malware/viruses or harvest your account credentials/personal information. When navigating to the Vermont Federal website, it is always recommended to navigate directly to the site by typing “vermontfederal.org” in your browser’s address bar.
For more information on the latest consumer scams, and how you can avoid them, please visit the FTC website.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant amount of fraudulent activity from scammers who are taking advantage of this volatile time period. The U.S. government, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies are asking all financial institutions and individuals to exercise extreme caution and to be on the lookout for COVID-19 related scams, including money mule schemes.
For more information on the most recent money mule scheme alert, please view this FBI Public Service Announcement.
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) is reporting a spike in cryptocurrency related scams. Over the last month, DFR has received complaints from Vermonters who collectively reported losing over $1 million to cryptocurrency scams. Before you use, send, or invest in cryptocurrencies, make sure you know what makes cryptocurrencies different from other types of payment methods and investments and know how to spot cryptocurrency scams.
Click here to see more information from the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.
Vermont Federal Credit Union has been notified that member accounts are showing a deposit from AT&T. Vermont Federal has investigated this and found that the deposits appear to be fraudulent and when the merchant is contacted they are asking for members account numbers. Please be advised that Vermont Federal Credit Union believes that this is a scam . Please remember that you should always keep your account information confidential. Should you have any concerns around this please feel free to contact us directly(888) 252-0202 option 2, or visit your local branch after scheduling an appointment.
We are here to help. If you are concerned that you may have given out personal information, have noticed suspicious activity within your accounts, are uneasy about a communication you have received, or have any general questions about keeping your financial information and identity safe, please call us at (888) 252-0202.
We are here to help. If you are concerned that you may have given out personal information, have noticed suspicious activity within your accounts, are uneasy about a communication you have received, or have any general questions about keeping your financial information and identity safe, please call us at (888) 252-0202.
