Member Safety Center
Your Guide to Banking Safety
You trust your financial institution with your money and data. Let's work together to keep them safe. Utilizing your Unity Catholic’s protection methods and being aware of current threats, safe banking practices, and scam-spotting skills makes you an active partner in your own financial security.
Your Guide to Spotting Modern Scams
Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics to trick you. From elaborate phishing emails to fake investment opportunities, the threats are diverse and ever-changing. Explore the latest scams and methods fraudsters use and learn how to safeguard your finances.
Digital Danger Zone
How Scammers Reach Out
Scammers target their victims in multiple ways. Knowing how they contact you can help you learn where to be extra vigilant during your day-to-day interactions.
| 23% | |
|---|---|
| Phone Calls | 21% |
| SMS Texts | 16% |
| Social Media | 14% |
| Other | 14% |
| Websites/Apps | 12% |
Quiz
Understanding Social Media Scams
Think you know how to spot and avoid social media scams? Take this quiz to find out how to protect yourself from common fraud tactics.
What percentage of all social media fraud loss reports were due to online shopping scams?
A. 30%
B. 44%
C. 50%
D. 60%
Social Engineering
Some Scam Artists Want to Get Inside Your Head
Scam Alert
The New Face of Fraud Targets Your Investments
Investment and crypto scams have topped the risk list in recent years, with 80.4% of scam attempts resulting in money loss with a median loss of $3,800. Stay vigilant in your financial decisions to ward off these scammers.
Account Threats
Six Common Scams that Could Empty Your Accounts
From impersonators posing as trusted organizations to urgent demands for your personal information, scammers are waiting to catch you off guard. Learn to spot the red flags in emails, calls, and messages so you know what to watch out for.
Imposter Scam: Fraudsters pose as financial institutions or government agencies to obtain money or personal information.
Urgency Scam: Scammers create false time pressures to force quick, ill-considered actions.
Phishing Scam: Deceptive emails, texts or messages trick victims into revealing personal or financial data
Utility Scam: Con artists impersonate utility companies threatening to cut service and extort payments.
Support Specialist Scam: Fake tech support agents claim to fix nonexistent device issues to gain remote access.
Pay Yourself Scam: Criminals send fake fraud alerts, then pose as bank representatives to trick victims into transferring money.
Protect Your Accounts
Don’t Let Scammers Catch You by Surprise
Explore the ways we can help you protect your accounts from fraud attempts, from banking alerts and activity controls to enhanced verification measures. For more information, stop by our branch or visit us online!
Helpful Hints for Outwitting Scammers
Protecting your finances starts with smart, everyday habits. Discover essential tips and tricks to help you bank safely and confidently. Like enable two-factor authentication and regularly monitoring accounts. Understanding these practical strategies can help you build a robust defense against financial scammers.
Safeguard Your Digital World
Protect your Financial future with these digital safety tips.
Create an unbreakable and unique password every 90 days using a combination of capital letters, numbers, and symbols.
Embrace two-factor authentication and never share one-time codes
Avoid accessing accounts that contain sensitive information like email on public networks or shared devices.
Shield devices with licensed antivirus software and keep operating systems updated to guard against cyber threats.
Set up account and debit card alerts using our mobile app’s card services tab.
Key insights
Red Flags That Reveal Banking Imposter Scams
Imposters will:
Ask you to send money
Real financial institutions never ask you to move money for any reason using transfers, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payments.Request verification codes
Your financial institution will never ask you to repeat one-time verification codes over the phone.Create a false sense of urgency
Scammers pressure you to act quickly, while your financial institution will allow plenty of time for verification.Contact you unexpectedly about account issues
When in doubt, end the communication and call your financial institution directly.
Trendspotting
Rising Fraud Categories
Imposter scams are the leading fraud category
Scammers will impersonate financial institutions, government officials, distressed relatives, businesses, or tech support to gain access to your sensitive information.Losses from investment scams have been on the rise
These scams often promise high returns through lucrative opportunities like cryptocurrency.Social media can be a hot spot for fraud
Scammers hack your profile to gain access to your personal information, impersonate you, and con your contacts.
Banking Safety Checklist
Fortify Your Banking Information
Tools for Your Financial Security
We're committed to helping you protect your finances, which is why we offer advanced security products and services designed to safeguard your accounts from fraud and scams. From real-time transaction alerts to secure authentication methods, we offer tools that put you in control. Learn how you can use these tools to bank with confidence.
Security Features
How We Keep Your Transactions Secure
Fraud detection and monitoring systems:
Automated systems monitor digital bill payments for suspicious activity, flagging and reviewing potential fraud.Enhanced activity controls:
A network of financial institutions anonymously shares fraud data to enhance detection, tracking consumer behaviors for signs of fraud.Real-time account verification:
Instantly verify external accounts, ensuring secure account-to-account transfers.Flexible risk systems:
Adaptable risk management strategies evolve with changing fraud patterns to maintain security standards.
Safety Tip
Keep your Accounts Safe by Setting up Banking Alerts
Setting up alerts on your accounts can help you stay informed in real-time about suspicious activity on your account, like unexpected withdrawals or large purchases.
Set up account alerts in Home Banking.
Activate debit card alerts in our mobile app.
Ensure you inform all financial institutions when you change your address, phone, or email.
Sign up with Credit Sense to monitor your credit report and set alerts when new activity is performed.
Frequently Asked Questions and Helpful Links
Discover the answers to common questions about banking safety and explore links to resources that can help you in the event of a fraud attempt.
FAQ
Q: How do I recover after a cyberattack?
A: If you've provided your financial information to someone you later think is a scammer, first call your financial institution. Whether it's your credit card issuer, financial institution, or Medicare contact, call and ask about canceling fraudulent transactions and blocking future charges. You might also need to change your account numbers and freeze your credit to make sure no one uses your existing accounts or creates new accounts in your name.
Q: What if my personal email account, bank account, or other accounts were compromised?
A: Immediately change your passwords for any potentially compromised accounts. Contact your financial institution to let them know your accounts may be compromised. Ask them to put a fraud alert on your accounts. Check your financial statements and credit reports to regularly identify any false charges or suspicious activity.
Q: What should I do if I suspect my identity has been stolen?
A: Check your credit card, financial institution, and other financial accounts for unauthorized charges or changes. If you see any, report them to the company or institution. Then go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps you should take.
