security

Security Center

How to Protect Your Accounts from Email and Phone Scams

  1. To ensure your security online and over the phone, do not respond to unsolicited emails, text messages, or phone calls to request your personal financial information, such as your credit card number, expiration date, PINs or passwords, or full Social Security number. LAFCU will NEVER send you emails, phone calls or text messages, asking you to confirm, update or provide your account information.
  2. If you receive a suspicious email or telephone call claiming to be from LAFCU requesting sensitive information, DO NOT reply, click any of the links, or return the call. Instead, contact LAFCU immediately at (877) 695-2328 to report the suspicious activity and ensure that your accounts are in order.
  3. Monitor your transactions online and set up account alerts so you will be notified of unauthorized withdrawals or activity on your accounts (like checking, savings, loans, & credit cards).
  4. Create unique PINs and passwords that do not include easily identifiable information such as maiden name, birth date, etc.
  5. If your card is misplaced or stolen, freeze your debit or credit card or set fraud alert on your account.

How LAFCU Protects You

  • We follow industry standards of “multi-factor authentication” to protect against unauthorized online banking account access.
  • We utilize strong encryption software inside online and mobile banking.
  • We support browsers that adhere to our high encryption standards.
  • We automatically log you out of online or mobile banking after a set period of inactivity.
  • We offer transaction alerts, blocks and locks on your credit card accounts through a trusted vendor.
  • We offer ID Theft protection plans, through a credit union partner.

How to Report Fraud

If you believe one of your accounts has been compromised or you suspect fraud, please contact the Member Services department immediately at (877) 695-2328.

Common Fraud Scams

Phishing
Phishing is a malicious attack that uses email to solicit your personal information. The email is “disguised’ as a legitimate email but it’s actually a fake email that attempts to get you to click on a link or attachment within it with the ultimate purpose of stealing your information. The phishing will claim to be from a business or service provider you normally do business with stating that your account has been compromised and to click on the link to change your password immediately. Do not fall for this! Delete the email immediately. LAFCU will never ask for your personal information unsolicited - either by email or phone. Call us directly instead.

Vishing:
Similar to phishing except this scam uses the phone to obtain your personal information. It’s usually a pre-recorded message stating there’s an issue with your account or some legal judgment has been issued against you and you must call them immediately. LAFCU will never contact you in this manner.

Smishing
Smishing fraud targets your text messages. It’s called Smishing from “SMS”-ing…where SMS is the technical term for sending text messages. With people relying more and more on cell phones and text messaging, scammers are also targeting you through text messages. If you receive a suspicious text message requesting your information, do not respond to it.

Card Skimming
In physical stores, ATMs, and gas stations card readers, thieves have installed hidden small “skimming” devices inside or on top of the card reader. This is how they attempt to steal the personal information stored on your credit or debit card that they will use later to access funds in your account.

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More ways to protect yourself against scams
How to Spot & Avoid Credit Card Skimmers