A new analysis from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that fake financial institution fraud warnings were the most common form of text message scams reported to the agency in 2022 – nearly twenty times the number since 2019. These texts are designed to create a sense of urgency, often by asking people to verify a large transaction they did not make.
You can avoid text scams like this by following a few guidelines:
- Never click on links or respond to unexpected texts. If think the text might be legitimate, contact DuTrac or the company who sent the text via a phone number or website you know is real. Never use the contact information provided in the text message.
- Filter unwanted texts. Your phone may have an option to filter and block spam or messages from unknown senders.
- Never give your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. Honest organizations won’t call, email, or text to ask for your personal information, such as Social Security number, credit union account information, or credit card numbers.
- Stop and talk to someone you trust. Before you do anything, tell someone — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — about the text. Talking about it with someone else could help you realize it’s a scam.
If you feel you may have been the victim of fraud, contact our Fraud Specialist at fraud@dutrac.org or visit any DuTrac location.
Information from Colleen Kelly, Senior Federal Compliance Counsel in CUNA’s Compliance Department. To read Colleen’s full article, click here.