CommonConnection

5 minute module

Return to All Articles

Spoofing Scams Are No Laughing Matter

In a spoofing scam, criminals pose as a familiar organization or someone in your neighborhood to steal your money or personal information. This article shows you common spoofing scams, what to watch out for, and ways to stay protected.

The scam has a funny name, but the results can be serious. Criminals involved in online or phone spoofing try to gain your trust by making you believe they are from a legitimate source. Don’t fall for it! Here’s what you need to watch out for and ways to stay protected.

Email and Website Spoofing 
Popular with scammers, email and website spoofing are part of many phishing schemes in which criminals try to earn your trust by pretending to be a business or organization you know. You may receive an email with a logo and other details you recognize. But practice caution and look closely at the communication. Telltale signs of email spoofing include impersonal language, a slight variation in the sender’s website address, and typos.

Your Social Security number is especially valuable to an identity thief, and they will try all sorts of schemes to trick you into revealing it. 

Caller ID Spoofing
Another scam is caller ID spoofing. Chances are, you’ve already been targeted by this scheme. Using easily available technology, criminals can show ANY name or phone number they want on YOUR caller ID, so you will be more likely to answer.

Scammers can display your area code or even the first few digits of your phone number so that a caller appears local when they’re far away. They may pose as a government agency like the Department of Veterans Affairs, CommonWealth Central Credit Union (or any financial institution), or a company you do business with. 

How to Protect Yourself
To avoid falling for a spoofing scam, you can do the following:
Be wary of email requests for personal or financial information – even if they appear to be from a business you know. 
Don’t reply, download attachments, click links, or log in to a linked website, which could be a dummy site designed to capture your online account information.
Don’t automatically trust your caller ID. Verify phone and email requests by contacting the organization via their website or publicly listed phone number. 
Delete suspicious emails right away. 
Don’t be afraid to hang up the phone.
 Don’t comply with requests for personal or payment information unless you initiated the conversation.
Remember, CommonWealth will never ask you for information like:
Secure Access Code
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Online Banking Username/Password
Social Security Number

What to Do If You’ve Been the Victim of a Scam
Here are some steps to take if you’ve been scammed:
Contact your financial institution right away if your accounts were compromised.
Change your online account logins. Use two-factor authentication to secure your accounts.
Within two to six weeks, check your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com for signs of identity theft – like unfamiliar loan applications – and contact credit reporting agencies if you spot fraudulent activity. The three major credit reporting agencies are TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. They can help you take steps to protect your information.
Report the scam to the U.S. Office of the Inspector General at OIG.SSA.gov/report.

Additional Resources
Introduction to Social Media Scams - 5 minute module
Mobile and Online Banking - 5 minute module
Identity Protection - 5 minute module

Download the CardControl App!

CardControl empowers you to decide when, where, and how your cards are used, both in advance and real-time. You have control to help reduce fraud and misuse of your cards.

Learn More!

Refer Your Friends And Family!

We are always here for you and want to be there for the people you care about too. Refer your friends and family and you will both receive $100!*

Learn More!

How-To Videos

Get the most out of Online and Mobile Banking with our step-by-step tutorial videos that cover topics like: Transfer Payments, Account Preferences, Mobile Deposit, & Bill Pay.

Learn More! 

Scam Alerts

Stay Connected With Us

Online Banking 

Locations |  wealthcu.org  |  (800) 564-1588

Holiday Closures
Independence Day - Tuesday, July 4th

  Federally Insured by NCUA  