Text and Phone Call Fraud Alert!
Fraud is on the rise — and criminals are getting better at pretending to be financial institutions and tricking people into giving out personal information.
Fraud attempts are happening to UMe members, via text and phone.
Fraudsters are impersonating UMe and reaching out to our members (via text and phone call) pretending to be the Credit Union and asking for online banking login information to confirm if transactions are legitimate. THAT IS A SCAM. The telltale sign that it’s a scam is if you are asked for any UMe login information. Be aware and be vigilant about not sharing your personal UMe login information (User ID and Password for online banking, mobile banking and Zelle). We will never ask you for any of your login information.
Fraudsters have also been calling and asking for members’ online security passcodes, which our Multi-Factor Authentication generates on online and mobile banking. A UMe team member will NEVER call U and ask for this information. This passcode is generated for your security and is not to be shared with anyone.
If you get a text claiming to be from UMe and asking you to validate a transaction, that text should begin with the following line: “FreeMsg: CMS UMEFCU 8882412440:” — and the text will include the transaction date and last 4 digits of your UMe card. If that information is different in any way, it’s not a legitimate UMe text.
If you have any question about whether it’s a valid UMe text, call the transaction confirmation line directly at (888) 241-2440, instead of answering the text. You can confirm or report a transaction on that call, by pressing 1 and following the prompts.
If you get a call from someone claiming to be UMe and are asked for any UMe login information to validate your identity or a transaction, that is a scam. If your caller ID shows our UMe phone number, that could still be fraud. Caller ID spoofing is the practice of falsifying information about an incoming call on the receiver’s caller ID display. Scammers will manipulate the caller ID so that the call appears to be coming from a local or well-known phone number (like our UMe number), making it more likely to be trusted or answered. If you get a call from our (818) 238-2900 number and the person on the line asks you for any UMe login information, end the call immediately and call us directly.
REMEMBER:
We will never ask you for your online banking login and password. Never.
We will never ask you for your mobile banking login and password. Never.
We will never ask you for your Zelle login information. Never.
We will never ask you for your Multi-Factor Authentication passcode. Never.
Please stay vigilant about protecting your personal information. Never share it with anyone. U matter to Me (to all of us) at UMe — and we want to keep your accounts as safe and secure as possible.
How To Report Spam Text Messages
- Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
- Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
For more information about how to recognize and report spam text messages
If you have any questions, please give us a call at (818) 238-2900.
Disclaimer: U matter to Me (all of us) at UMe — and that’s why we do our best to deliver helpful information on our blog. Please note the following: (1) UMe Credit Union works hard to make certain that the information we post here is as accurate as humanly possible. But as you know, information can change and evolve quickly. While we try to update the blog on a regular basis, the content of some older posts may not be correct or up-to-date. (2) Some destinations on the World Wide Web that we link you to will exist on external websites. UMe Credit Union does not officially endorse any connected sites, nor do/did we compensate or get compensated by any entities to be featured in our posts (unless otherwise noted). (3) Everyone’s situation is unique and we advise you to consult with our personal bankers or your finance, tax, or legal professional for advice individualized to you!