Protect Yourself from Imposter Scams
November 28, 2022
Have you ever received a suspicious email, text, or phone call from someone saying they’re calling from the Postal Service, another government agency, or a financial institution like RCU, asking you to provide confidential information or complete a survey? You’re not alone. These are imposter scams designed to separate you from your money.
Imposter scams come in many varieties but work the same way. Scammers use high-pressure tactics to persuade unsuspecting people that they need to pay up or hand over personal information to quickly resolve an issue.
Use these tips to identify and protect yourself from a potential imposter scammer:
- Don’t trust your Caller ID. Scammers are pros at manipulating Caller ID systems to show the caller information they want displayed. Even if the Caller ID shows the name of an official organization, it does not guarantee that the person on the other end works for them.
- Don’t engage. If you receive a call from someone urgently requesting security passcodes, account/personal information, or money, this is a red flag. Don’t spend any time asking questions. Hang up.
- Be careful of emails. If you receive a suspicious email, don’t click any links or open attachments. They may contain malware that can damage your computer or phone.
- Check with the actual agency or individual. Verify that the entity contacting you is legitimate before giving out information. If you’re given a phone number, research the accuracy of the number before you call.
- Never pay for a prize. If someone informs you that you’ve won a prize, you should not have to pay any taxes, delivery fees, or insurance payments to collect it.
- Don’t send a wire transfer or gift card. These are all ways that scammers ask to be paid with urgency.
If you have questions or think you may have been a victim of fraud, please report it to RCU’s Fraud Department at 1 (800) 479-7928 or contact us online.
PPP Forgiveness Application Deadline
Congress passed The Economic Aid Act which changed the deferment period from 6 months post covered period to 10 months post covered period. For example, if your covered period ended June 30, 2021, under the new guidelines the earliest your first loan payment wouldn’t be due until April 2022, and you have until then to request forgiveness. Please use the following calculation to help you identify when your forgiveness will be due:
- PPP borrowers may select a covered period anywhere from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
- RCU is automatically calculating your loan due date based on a 24-week covered period, if you intend on using a shorter covered period please inform us immediately as this will impact your due date.
- Your correct deadline will be reflected in your online banking account.
If all or part of your PPP loan is not forgiven, your first loan payment will be due the first of the following month after a decision is made by the SBA.
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