SCAM AWARENESS

Phishing:  Using fake emails that look like they came from a legitimate source - such as your credit union. The message typically includes a notice of unusual activity on your account along with a sense of urgency to get in contact with them by clicking a link, calling a phone number, or sending a text reply on your mobile phone. This is an attempt to entice you to share your sensitive information, which can lead down a devastating path to identity and financial theft.

Smishing: This is exactly like phishing. It is an attempt to solicit your personal information - only the channel is via text message.

Vishing: You may receive a follow-up call if you interact with a fraudulent text message. This is a combination attack by a phone call rather than email or text message. If you receive a phone call asking to provide confidential information about your accounts, we recommend hanging up immediately and contacting your financial institution. When in doubt, always contact Community West directly for any questions regarding your accounts or loans.

Did you know fraudsters often pose as someone special on a dating website or app? Soon, they want to email, call, or message you to get you off the platform. They will tug at your heartstrings, saying it's true love, but they live far away - for work or because they're in the military. Then they start asking for money. It could be for a plane ticket to visit you, emergency surgery, or something else urgent.

Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps or contact you through social media messengers like Instagram or Facebook. These scammers create a relationship with you to build trust, making you feel good, and sometimes will talk or chat with you several times a day. Then, they make up a story and reason to ask for money. There will always be a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting immediately, but it's a scam!

Scammers impersonate well-known tech companies, promising to fix non-existent issues or renew fraudulent software or security applications. These fraudsters will often request remote access to your device. Once access is given, they can install malware that lets them hack into your computer. Tech companies do not call individuals to report problems. If you receive a call out of the blue or due to clicking on a link from a pop-up message, do not act immediately. Bring the device to a local electronic store to be serviced, or run virus detection software on the impacted device to identify any issues.

The call or email is urgent; you need to pay right away or something terrible will happen. This is a pressure tactic to act quickly with no time to think or talk to someone you trust. A scammer might ask you to pay for something by putting money on a gift card, like a Google Play or iTunes card, and request that you give them the numbers on the back of the card. If they ask you to do this, they're trying to scam you. No real business or government agency will ever insist you pay them with a gift card. Anyone who demands to be paid with a gift card is a scammer.

Elder Scams:  Scammers are tricking seniors into sending their "grandchildren" money or paying for fake services.

Job Scams: Do not pay for work. No real job will ask you to pay to begin a new job!

Social Engineering Fraud: Fraudsters will act like customer support representatives from utility companies or financial institutions where the victims have accounts.

Secret Shopper: People will pose as companies offering mystery shopping services to dupe shoppers out of money.

Advanced Fee: The victims of this type of scam will be asked to wire upfront fees for a false promise of receiving money.