Keeping your money and personal information safe is always our focus at BrightBridge Credit Union. Part of that commitment is helping you recognize the latest scams before they can cause harm. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in cases where fraudsters use alarming pop-ups or urgent messages to trick members into taking action that puts their money at risk.
• A pop-up message suddenly appears on your computer or tablet warning that your account or personal information has been compromised.
• The message instructs you to call a specific phone number for assistance.
• When you call, a person claiming to be from a reputable organization such as Apple, Microsoft, law enforcement or even a government agency, says that someone overseas is trying to make fraudulent purchases in your name.
• To “protect your money,” they may tell you to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM or transfer funds to a so-called “safe account.”
These instructions are not legitimate, and a key red flag to note is the request to deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM. Once funds are deposited or sent to another account, they are nearly impossible to recover.
Fraudsters can be very convincing, and some even coach victims to lie to credit union employees if asked about large withdrawals or unusual transactions. Please remember: BrightBridge team members are trained to spot fraud and protect you. If something feels off, it’s because it probably is.
Our team of Fraud experts are regularly trained in evolving scam tactics because we know that as reliance on technology increases, risks of encountering scams also increase. If you ever feel suspicious about a popup, message or phone call, please end all communication immediately and call BrightBridge at 800-356-0067. We are here and happy to help you through your experience and ensure that your most important assets remain safe and secure.
• Never call or click on a number or link that appears in a pop-up or unexpected message.
• Do not send money or move funds to “secure” accounts or Bitcoin ATMs.
• Be cautious if anyone pressures you to act quickly or keep a conversation secret.
• Always verify suspicious claims by calling BrightBridge directly using the phone number on our official website or the back of your debit card: 800-356-0067. And this doesn’t just apply to your credit union. If you receive a cold call from any company, you should hang up and call the company’s official number and speak with a representative to confirm the call is not fraud.
• Talk to us. If you’re unsure about a situation, we’re here to help. No judgment, no pressure, just support.
Your BrightBridge team will never ask you to move money to another account or deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM. You can always trust that we’re on your side and ready to help you stay secure! Staying informed, asking questions and reaching out to BrightBridge when something seems suspicious is the best way to protect yourself and your hard-earned money.
Category: Blog Slideshow
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With fraud and scams on the rise, we are taking extra steps to keep your accounts and personal information safe. As part of these efforts, you may notice that our online and mobile banking systems will now prompt you for multi-factor authentication more frequently.
Keeping your money and personal information safe is always our focus at BrightBridge Credit Union. Part of that commitment is helping you recognize the latest scams before they can cause harm. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in cases where fraudsters use alarming pop-ups or urgent messages to trick members into taking action that puts their money at risk.
Keeping your BrightBridge accounts safe starts with strong, unique passwords. Recent trends have shown an increase in people using the same password for multiple apps and websites including email, social media and online banking. While this practice seems like an easy way to remember your login credentials, it can put your accounts at serious risk.
