Don’t fall for Gift Card Scam

Don’t fall for Gift Card Scam.  Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments.

If someone calls with urgent news or a convincing story and pressures you to pay them by buying a gift card, like an iTunes, WalMart, or Google Play card, and want you to give them the codes on the back of the card – stop. It’s a scam.  Here are couple scenarios that scammers may use.

  • A scammer calls and pretends to be from a government agency.  Such as IRS or Social Security. The scammer says that you owe money for taxes, bail money, debt collection, and more. They then tell you have to pay them with gift cards.
  • A scammer claims to be a family member in trouble or someone you know. The scammer tells you that they need to be paid in gift cards in order to remedy the situation. Don’t believe them. Never buy gift cards for them or provide them with any gift card codes.
  • You receive an email that looks like it from someone you know i.e.: your boss, mother, spouse, friend, family member and the person asks you to go buy gift cards and give them the code on back…. STOP!  It’s a scam.
  • Let’s make some quick money scam.  You are short on money and you see the “Make Quick Money” advertisement. Beware this is a scam.   The way it works:  The scammer is always excited when someone answers their ad. All you have to do is buy them a few gift cards.  They will deposit money in your account for the cards plus a few extra dollars for your time.  However, they need your banking information in order to deposit the money.  DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR INFORMATION.  It is a SCAM.

If you are ever in doubt if something is correct.  Just stop.  Give us a call and whatever you do… do not share your personal information and banking information.  Thank you.

If you’re a victim of a gift card scam – report it. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.

Also, share your experience.  There are many ways to help prevent others from falling victim by reporting the scam and sharing your experience via social Medias and also on Google.

 

Stimulus Fraud Scams

Stimulus Fraud Scams

Should I be worried about stimulus payment scams?

New stimulus checks are in the works which means fraudsters are working on new ways to take your money. Scams are always a concern when money is involved, so you should be on the lookout. Some possible scams include:

  • Emails or texts that try to get you to click on a link that then takes you to a form that asks you for personal information so you can get any payment that you are owed. Do not respond to any email or text asking for personal information.
  • Phone calls where someone claims to be from a federal agency such as the IRS or Treasury Department. Never assume an incoming call is from an authorized person especially if they are asking for personal information.
  • People who contact you claiming that you can get your payment faster by paying a small fee by using either a gift card or prepaid debit card. Always be cautious when working with any person or business you do not know or cannot verify.
  • Someone calls you and demands personal information such as bank account numbers or your Social Security number right away or you’ll lose your benefits. This is almost always a sure sign of a scam.

In general, you should be aware that federal agencies won’t ask you to pay anything up front to get your payment, and they won’t call, email, text, or reach out to you via social media to request your bank account or Social Security number, or to verify personal information.

 

Will my financial institution know when I am scheduled to receive my stimulus payment?

The answer is no. White Eagle CU does not know when you are scheduled to receive your stimulus payment. Those payments are issued by the IRS, not your financial institution. You can visit the Get My Payment site at IRS.gov for more details, including the status of the payment, and a link to many frequently asked questions.

For the most current information about stimulus payments, visit IRS.gov.

If you spot one of these scams, please tell the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.