Scammers never stop trying to find ways to steal your personal information, not even during the holidays. That’s why it’s so important to stay one step ahead of holiday Imposters. These scammers will contact you pretending to be from your financial institution, a government agency such as the IRS, Medicare or even a charitable organization and try to trick you into sending money or providing personal or account information. These scams can be very sophisticated and seem quite real. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Never share personal or account information: Omaha Federal Credit Union, government agencies, or reputable charitable organizations will never call, email or send a text message and ask for personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers or credit card numbers. Never share a one-time PIN unless you initiated the call.
- Be cautious when clicking links in emails or text messages: Watch for the signs of fraudulent communications like misspelled words, shortened URLs and logos or names that might have slight variations. Good rule is to never click on links that you didn’t request.
- Call the person or company directly: Trust your gut. If you suspect that a call or email you received might be a scam, don’t respond, hang up and call the company directly with a number located on a statement or by using a phone number directory.