New Scam Targets Yakima Credit Union Members

Bank scams are on the rise, especially in Washington, and a major Credit Union just sent out a notice about a new one, which is a good reminder to everyone, no matter where they bank, to be on their guard when it comes to their identity and finances.

Washington Bank Scams & Fraud Are Huge In The U.S.

The Evergreen State ranks 6th overall in the country for scams dealing with imposters pretending to be banks (and/or government departments or officials). And according to the Tacoma News Tribune, roughly 1,091 scams are reported per million residents, with $18.6 million in losses last year alone.

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A New Scam Reported In The Yakima Valley

Solarity Credit Union sent out a warning to its customers (that is useful information for everyone) about members being contacted regarding unusual activity on their accounts.

“Scammers are pretending to be representatives from credit unions and calling members about a ‘suspicious transaction’ on their debit or credit card. Their goal is to gain your trust and convince you to move money to a ‘safe’ account.”

You guessed it, that account is their account, and in the blink of an eye, your cash can be gone.

ID Theft & Scam Tips

I’ve experienced more than my fair share of identity theft and attempted scams. Luckily for the identity theft that has occurred to me, I’ve been lucky and have caught the incident before it ballooned up.

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As far as scams, I’m (as I’m sure many of you are) getting several annoying emails and phone calls every month. Be careful, and remember these tips.

• If someone wants you to give them your personal information and you did not initiate the conversation, do not do it. Just hang up.
• If someone is pressuring you to take action immediately, do not do it.
• If you’re worried that the situation might be legitimate, hang up and reach out on your own to the appropriate business/bank/government office. DO NOT use the phone number or email that they provide for you.
• If anyone wants you to pay in gift cards, it’s a scam.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• When in doubt, just hang up.