Fraud & Scams

The only legitimate automated recording you will receive will be from Industrial Credit Union’s fraud partner, Falcon Fraud. The automated caller will begin the call with “This is the Card Member Security Department on behalf of Industrial Credit Union calling for [Member Name].”

You will be asked to verify information to prove your identity. Requests may include: the primary cardholder’s 5-digit zip code, 10-digit phone number, birth date and the last 4 digits of the primary card holder’s social security number. You will not be asked for your card number, expiration date or security code on the back of the card.

Fraudulent Calls

Members of local financial institutions, including Industrial CU, have reported receiving phone calls saying that the member’s MasterCard has been blocked. The automated recording asks the member to verify their card number to ensure that they have reached the correct card holder. Though the recording may sound official, this is a fraudulent attempt to steal card numbers and other personal information. If you receive a call like this, please do not type in your card number or give out any personal information.

Warning Signs

• You are asked to confirm your debit card information over the phone.
• The call comes from an out-of-area phone number. Falcon Fraud automated calls will appear on caller ID displays as CU Card Security 855.959.1178.
• You are advised to contact a fake fraud investigation body and discouraged from contacting your credit union.

Tips to Protect Your Personal Information

• Do not give out your personal, debit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call, the call came from Falcon Fraud, or the phone number came from a trusted source.
• If you receive a call from someone other than Falcon Fraud who claims to be from Industrial Credit Union and says there has been fraud on your account, you should ask for their name and number, and say you will call them back. Check the number they give you against our phone number – 360.734.2043.
• If you receive a phone call that you think may be genuine, you should not ignore the possibility that there may have actually been fraud on your account. Ask the caller for details, then hang up and call us to tell us what has happened. Make sure the phone number you use is genuine: use a number that appears on your statement or card, or in the phone book.

Text message schemes have become even more prevalent as financial institutions around the world begin offering more text-based services. Fraudsters using text to attempt to scam recipients often send text messages that appear to be sent from a financial institution and ask the recipient to verify their account number or other personal information.

If you receive a text message like this, please do not click any links or reply to the message. Industrial Credit Union will never request sensitive, financial or personal information over text.

Warning Signs

• You receive a text from an unknown number asking about recent activity on your account.
• You are asked to confirm your account or personal details by responding to a text message.
• You receive a text claiming fraudulent activity has been found on your account.
• You receive a text claiming that your debit or credit card has been canceled.
• You are told to contact a fake fraud investigation body and discouraged from contacting Industrial.

Tips to Protect Your Personal Information

• Do not give out your personal, debit card or online account details over a text message.
• Do not open suspicious or unsolicited text messages; delete them.
• Do not click on any links in a spam text message.
• Never call a telephone number that you see in a spam text message.
• Never reply to a spam text message (even to unsubscribe).
• Never send your personal, debit card or online account details through a text message.

A phishing scheme is a fraudulent email that attempts to obtain personal information by posing as a trusted business, such as a financial institution. A phishing email may appear to come from your personal financial institution or the maker of your credit/debit card (e.g. Visa or MasterCard).

The phishing email will ask you to verify your account number or other personal information. If you receive a phishing email, do not click any links in the email and delete it immediately.

Industrial Credit Union will never ask for your personal information over email.

Warning Signs

• You receive an email from somebody saying they are from Industrial Credit Union, asking you about recent activity on your credit card or account.
• You are asked to confirm your debit card or account details by return email.
• The sender of the email claims that there has been fraudulent activity found on your account, or that your card has been canceled.
• You are advised to contact a fake fraud investigation body and discouraged from contacting Industrial Credit Union.

Tips to Protect Your Personal Information 

• Never send your personal, debit card or online account details through an email.
• Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails (spam); delete them.
• Do not click on any links in a spam email, or open any files attached to them.
• Never call a telephone number that you see in a spam email.
• Never reply to a spam email (even to unsubscribe).
• If you want to access an internet account website, use a bookmarked link or type the address in yourself: never follow a link in an email.
• Never enter your personal, debit card or online account information on a website that you are not certain is genuine.

The Federal Trade Commission is a great resource for alerts on many types of scams. We recommend that you visit their website here and sign up for email alerts to be informed of new and common scams.