Email, Text or Phone Scams

Email, Text and Phone Scams

Email scams (phishing): These are unauthorized emails that request sensitive information. They often take the form of a message from a financial institution asking you to provide account or password information due to a computer error, as part of a system upgrade, or even as part of an enhanced Internet security initiative. Sometimes they are worded to scare you into taking action—for example “your account/credit card has been suspended.”

Scammers often design the email to look as if it is from a trusted business, including logos or other images. Many contain links to a website that may look real, but is not. The information requested may include account numbers, usernames, access codes, or passwords. Never enter your account information if you reach such a site.

Phone scams (vishing) : Account holders receive an automated or live phone call stating that their card has been blocked, or offering a lower interest rate. Account holders are then asked to provide or enter their full number and PIN or CVV (security code on the back of your card) to reactivate their card or lower their rate. Sometimes, if the calls go unanswered a voicemail message is left instructing the account holder to contact a number to reactivate their account. Scammers can “spoof” legitimate phone numbers to make it look like they are calling from a company you know. If you are not expecting a call from that company, it’s OK not to answer. If the call is truly from your financial institution, they will leave a message, and you can call them back using a number from the official company website.

Text scams (smishing): Text/SMS messages referencing compromised cards and suspended accounts are typical. A number is provided within the text message for reactivation. Most messages do not reference a particular financial institution name.

Redwood Credit Union will never ask for your card number or personal data. If you receive this type of phishing email or text, please forward it to us at fraud@redwoodcu.org.

If you have entered information about one of your Redwood Credit Union accounts on a suspicious site, text message or phone call, please call our Member Service Center immediately at 1 (800) 479-7928 so we can help you take the necessary precautions to protect your accounts. We will also assist in investigating each incident and take steps, if possible, to prevent further unauthorized emails from being sent.

Be assured that RCU's systems remain secure and are not the cause of these incidents. Often, the perpetrators of these fraud attempts target multiple financial institutions with the hopes of tricking Members/customers into sharing their sensitive data.

We are committed to educating and helping Members on how to avoid becoming victims of these types of scams.