Scam & Fraud Prevention

Based on the FTC’s “How to Avoid a Scam” guide, here are the four signs to watch for:

1. They pretend to be someone you trust.
   Scammers often pose as ECU, the IRS, Social Security, Amazon, or even a loved one in distress.
2. They say there’s a problem—or a prize.
   Claims like “Your account is frozen” or “You’ve won something” are red flags, especially if you didn’t initiate the contact.
3. They pressure you to act immediately.
   Scammers create urgency to prevent you from thinking things through.
4. They tell you to pay in a specific way.
   If someone asks for payment via gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or Zelle® from an unknown contact—it’s a scam.

Fraud can happen to anyone—but scammers often target:

• Older adults (55+) with “tech support” or IRS impersonation scams
• Young adults (17–24) through social media, fake job offers, and payment app scams

If you or someone you know fits into these age groups, stay extra cautious and share this resource with them.

To protect yourself, it’s important to know what’s not normal. ECU will never:

• Ask for your full debit/credit card number or PIN via phone, text, or email
• Request that you transfer funds to “protect your account”
• Pressure you into acting quickly or sharing private account info over the phone
• Ask you to verify your identity by sending money

When in doubt, hang up or ignore the message and call us directly.

• Don’t click suspicious links in texts or emails.
• Always double-check the sender’s email or phone number.
• Avoid logging in to ECU accounts via links in messages—go directly to our website.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on your digital banking apps.
• Set up alerts to track transactions and unusual activity.

Check your credit reports regularly for new or unfamiliar activity.

• AnnualCreditReport.com — Access your credit report from all three bureaus for free, once per year.
• Call 877-322-8228 to request reports or place restrictions if needed.

• Free Credit Checks through your ECU account
• E-Club Members can monitor credit and report fraud directly in our mobile app

To enroll or learn more, contact us or stop by one of our locations.

• Visit FTC.gov for scam alerts, videos, and prevention tools
• Access ECU’s GreenPath Financial Wellness to manage finances and avoid financial pitfalls
• Follow ECU on social media for real-time scam updates and safety tips