Fraud Victims: Take Action!

You think you've just become a victim of identity fraud. Now what? 

Don't panic. There are steps you can take to help resolve this. Take a deep breath and consider taking the following actions:

1.) Contact us immediately:

If you feel you have been a victim of fraud, or if you identify fraudulent transactions on your account, notify us immediately. You can contact us directly at 1-800-763-8600. We can take steps to help protect your account and give you next steps.

2.) Place a fraud alert on your credit file:

To put a fraud alert on your credit file, contact one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. Once you request a fraud alert from one bureau, they will notify the other two, so you're covered. There's no need for you to call all three. The alert lasts for an entire year and warns lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. 

3.) Place a freeze on your credit file:

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, preventing new credit from being opened in your name unless you lift the freeze. It's free to set up and to remove. To place a freeze on your credit file, you'll need to contact each of the three major credit credit bureaus--Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion--individually. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. You'll need to give them your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. Once the freeze is set up, each bureau will send you a letter with a unique PIN or password. DO NOT lose this information. Keep it in a safe place because you'll need it if you want to lift the freeze.

Suspicious Communications

Fraudulent activity is often initiated from an email, phone call, or text. Here's how to handle suspicious messages:

1.) Don’t Respond: Criminals often send out phishing emails, pretending to be real businesses, in an attempt to trick customers into revealing personal information like account numbers and passwords. These emails can also target online retailers, utility companies,
and other businesses with secure login systems. If you receive an email that looks suspicious but claims to be from SAFE FCU, do not respond. Instead, forward it to reportscams@safefed.org and promptly delete it from your inbox.

2.) Avoid Opening Attachments or Clicking Links: If you don’t personally know the sender, refrain from opening email attachments or clicking on links.

3.) Protect Your Online, and Mobile Passwords: Fraudsters may call you, pretending to be from SAFE FCU. Don’t be fooled! If you’re suspicious of the call, inform the caller that you’ll verify with SAFE FCU directly. Then, call the Member Service Center at 1-800-763-8600.

4.) Watch Out for Smishing Texts: Just like phishing emails, criminals send out fake SMS text messages with links to fraudulent websites. SAFE FCU will never ask you to confirm or provide personal information in an unsolicited text. If you receive a suspicious
text that appears to be from SAFE FCU, forward it to reportscams@safefed.org. You can also report scam text messages to 7726 (SPAM) to have the number blocked by cellphone carriers.

5.) Beware of Spoofing Websites: Criminals create fake websites that resemble real company sites to steal personal information. Be cautious of links in emails, as phishing emails and smishing texts often lead to these fake sites. Look for the "https" in the
web address and check for a green security status bar and padlock icon, which may indicate a secure site.

REMEMBER: If you suspect fraudulent activity related to your SAFE FCU accounts, contact the Member Service Center at 1-800-763-8600 as soon as possible.