Digital advancements have weaponized scammers in new and dangerous ways, making it difficult to know if something, or someone, is legitimate. Unfortunately, things are not always as they seem when it comes to the number popping up on your phone, or the voice at the other end.

“Spoofing” is the criminal act of disguising a communication from an unknown source, to appear as if it’s being sent from a trusted or known contact. The ultimate goal of spoofing is to get the victim to share their personal/sensitive information and ultimately, their hard-earned money, with the scammer.

“Caller-ID Spoofing” is when someone intentionally alters their caller ID information to hide their identity or impersonate someone else. For example, your caller ID may show Credit Union of Denver as the caller, but it is just an illusion. You could be speaking with a caller anywhere in the world.

“How do I protect myself in these times of uncertainty?” We’ve got you covered.
 

• Don’t take phone calls at face-value. Even with caller-ID, if you suspect a scammer on the other end, hang up immediately and contact the individual/company directly with their saved/published contact information.
• Don’t provide your sensitive/personal information over the phone, text, or email. Never give out your personal information, including banking information, card information, PIN’s, or other personally identifiable information over the phone or to individuals that you do not personally know or trust.
• Don’t send money to strangers. Do not send money or gift cards to anybody that you do not personally know or trust.
• C·U·D will never ask you for your password, login credentials, multi-factor authentication (MFA) or verification codes, BUT a scammer will! 

  Red Flags & Warning Signs 

• Typos and spelling errors. Pay close attention to the details of the message, look out for typos, spelling errors, and unusual speech patterns.
• Unfamiliar phone number. Spoofing can occur either by falsifying the Credit Union of Denver’s phone number, or by an unknown source stating that they work for or with Credit Union of Denver with an unfamiliar phone number.
• Unusual request. You’ve been contacted, and the caller is asking your to send money or provide your personal information/passcodes. Stop! Credit Union of Denver employees will never ask for your digital banking password, or temporary passcodes.
• Urgency. Scammers provoke urgency to cloud our judgment and get you to act quickly. Slow down, stay calm, and think through the situation.

If you believe that you have shared sensitive information with a scammer through a spoofing attack, we can help secure your account. Contact Credit Union of Denver at 303.234.1700.