At Credit Union of America (CUA), helping you stay protected means giving you the tools and knowledge to spot suspicious activity before it becomes a problem. From data breaches to deceptive emails, threats to data and privacy continue to evolve, but we’re here to help you stay protected.

Here are the most important things to watch for right now and the steps you can take to safeguard your accounts.

 

Data Breaches Are Making Fraud Easier Than Ever

You may have heard about this in recent headlines. On June 28, cybersecurity researchers at Cybernews announced that more than 16 billion passwords were leaked in what they’re calling the “largest data breach in history.”

The breach includes login details tied to popular websites like Google, Facebook, and Apple. Even if you weren’t directly impacted, your information could still be at risk if you reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts, including your digital banking.

Here’s what you can do right now to protect yourself:

• Update your passwords, starting with your login credentials for financial institutions.
• Don’t use the same password across multiple sites.
• Enable two-factor authentication where possible.

This is also a great time to enable login and transaction alerts in digital banking. These notifications let you know the moment someone logs in or moves money.

To set up alerts:

1. Log in to your digital banking account.
2. Click on your profile icon and select “Settings.”
3. Select “Alerts,” and then enable notifications for logins, password changes, large transactions, and more.

 

Phishing Tactics That Use Your Own Email Address

Another tactic that is on the rise involves emails that appear to come from your own address. This technique, often called email spoofing, takes advantage of tools that allow senders to fake who an email appears to be from. These messages may even show your name or image to make them look more believable. They’re designed to catch you off guard and trick you into clicking a link or sharing private details.

If you receive an email from yourself that you didn’t send:

• Don’t open any links or attachments.
• Check your “Sent” folder to see if it truly came from your account.
• Mark the message as spam and delete it.

You can also report suspicious emails directly to the Federal Trade Commission by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov.

 

Protect Your Card from Impersonators

Scammers often pose as trusted organizations, and it’s especially common for them to impersonate financial institutions, such as your bank or credit union. These calls may sound legitimate and friendly, but the intent is to get you to share sensitive card details like your full card number, expiration date, or CVV code.

Some callers may also walk you through a text message asking you to confirm charges, encouraging you to respond while they stay on the line.

Even when it seems harmless to reply, sharing any kind of account information over the phone or through text is never safe.

Here’s what we want you to remember:

• Never give out your card details over the phone.
• Don’t verify charges in a text message under someone else’s direction.
• When in doubt, hang up and call us directly using the number on the back of your card.
• CUA will never call or text you asking for sensitive information.

 

Stay Aware and Feel Confident Online

Staying safe online doesn’t have to feel complicated. With a few simple changes like updating your passwords, turning on alerts, and knowing when to pause before you click, you can take charge of your security.

Stay vigilant, stay informed, and remember, we're here to help you navigate through any concerns or questions you may have. If you ever suspect fraudulent activity, please contact us right away.

For more tips and insights on common fraud tactics and scams, please click below.

 

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