Stay Cyber Smart and Financially Secure

Your Guide for Fraud Awareness Week (Nov 17-21) & Holiday Shopping
The holiday season and shopping events like Cyber Monday are prime time for scammers. They hope to catch you in a hurry or when you're distracted. The best defense for your hard-earned money is a little awareness. Here's how to spot and stop fraud.
Know the 4 Red Flags of a Scam
Be suspicious if someone:

1. Pretends to Be Someone You Trust: They'll impersonate your bank (MMFCU), a government agency (like the IRS), or a company you use (like Amazon).
2. Creates a Problem or a Prize: They'll create a sense of urgency, claiming you're in trouble, a family member needs help, or you've won a prize.
3. Pressures You to Act IMMEDIATELY: They demand you act now and often tell you not to talk to anyone else. This is a tactic to stop you from thinking.
4. Tells You to Pay in an Unusual Way: No legitimate organization will ever demand payment with gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or peer to peer payment apps.

 Watch Out for These Holiday & Cyber Monday Scams

• "Too Good to Be True" Deals (Cyber Monday): Scammers create fake websites and ads to steal your card info. If a deal seems unbelievable, it is. Stick to reputable retailers you know and trust.
• "Package Delivery" Phishing: You get a text or email about a "delivery problem" with a link. Do not click it. That link is designed to steal your information. Always track packages by going directly to the official carrier's website.
• "Check Washing" & Fake Check Scams: You receive an unexpected check (for a "secret shopper" gig or "promotion") and are told to deposit it and send some of the money back. The check will bounce, and you'll be responsible for the full amount. Never deposit a check and send money back to someone you don't know.
• "Family in Crisis" Scams: You get a panicked call from a "loved one" (or even an AI-faked voice) needing money immediately.
  •  Your Best Defense: Create a "family safe word" right now. If a caller claims to be a family member in a crisis, ask for the safe word. If they don't know it, it's a scam. Hang up and call your family member directly.

Your Proactive Defense Toolkit

• STOP AND PAUSE: If a call, text, or email feels urgent or emotional, just stop.
• NEVER PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION: MMFCU will never call, text, or email you asking for your Social Security number, username, password, or PIN.
• HANG UP & VERIFY: If you're unsure, hang up. Call the organization back using a phone number you know is legitimate (from the back of your card or their official website), not the number from the caller ID or email.

Use Your Digital Tools

• Monitor Your Accounts: Check your transactions regularly (even daily) using the mobile app or online banking. Report any charge you don't recognize.
• Set Up Alerts & Controls: This is your personal early-warning system. Log in to your MMFCU account to set up alerts for transactions, logins, and card activity.
• Use Strong Passwords & Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Use a different, complex password for every site and always enable MFA (the extra security code) when it's offered.

Secure Your Physical Information

• Pay Safely: Use "tap-to-pay" or a digital wallet (like Apple Pay or Google Pay) whenever possible. They are more secure than swiping.
• Use an RFID-Blocking Wallet: These sleeves protect your card information from being wirelessly scanned in public.
• Shred Your Documents: Shred any mail with personal or financial information before throwing it away.
• Monitor Your Credit: Use SavvyMoney (free within MMFCU's online banking) to monitor your score and pull your free full report annually from AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you suspect fraud on your MMFCU account, contact us immediately by call or text at (218) 829-0371, in person at any local office, or via chat on our website.

Other Key Resources:

• Report Fraud: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at Consumer.FTC.gov.
• Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze: Contact the four main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, Innovis).

Don't let scammers spoil your holiday. By staying alert and using these tools, you are building a strong defense against fraud. Remember the three most important steps: Stop and Pause. Verify. And Report. Together, we can keep your finances safe and secure.

 

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Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA, and we are an equal housing lender.