Member Protection Center
Knowledge is your best defense against fraud. Our Member Protection Center empowers you with the tools and information you need to recognize scams, protect your accounts, and act quickly if needed.
The Latest in Fraud Protection
'Tis the Season for Giving ā and Scams!
The holiday season often inspires us to open our hearts and wallets to support good causes. If you’re planning to increase your charitable giving or donate to a new organization, that’s wonderful! However, you must stay vigilant. Scammers are experts at exploiting your generosity, especially during peak giving times.
Protecting your donation starts with knowing how to spot a fake charity. Use this guide to ensure your money goes to the people and causes you want to help.
Your Donation Protection Toolkit
Here are crucial, proactive steps you can take before you donate:
Verify the Legitimacy of the Charity
Always verify a charityās registration and performance using trusted sources, which include Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance. You can also confirm if an organization is a registered non-profit (501(c)(3)) by searching the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool.
Protect Your Payment Information
When donating online, never click on a link in an unsolicited email or text message. Instead, go directly to the charityās official website by typing the address into your browser. Regularly check your bank and credit card statements after donating to make sure you were only charged the amount you agreed to and that no unauthorized recurring charges were added.
Four Red Flags to Spot a Fake Charity
Requests for Untraceable Payment Methods
If you are pressured to donate using gift cards, cash, money wires, or cryptocurrency, itās likely a scam. Fraudsters favor these methods because they are nearly impossible to trace and recover. A legitimate, reputable charity will accept standard, traceable payment methods, like credit cards or checks, and will never pressure you to use untraceable funds.
High-Pressure Tactics and a Sense of Urgency
Scammers often use aggressive or high-pressure tactics to create an immediate emotional crisis, or they claim that their campaign is ending āright now.ā While legitimate charities may have deadlines for specific initiatives, they do not pressure you excessively or guilt you into donating. Genuine charities appreciate your support throughout the year, not just during certain periods. Take your time, do your research, and never donate when you feel pressured.
'Thank You' for a Donation You Never Made
A fraudster may open the conversation by thanking you for a previous donation you never made. This is a tactic to build a false sense of familiarity and make you feel more comfortable ādonating again.ā Always keep a secure record of your actual donations. If you receive a call or email about a donation you donāt recognize, treat it as a scam attempt.
Asking for Too Much Personal or Financial Information
Scammers may ask you to provide information that is irrelevant to a donation, such as your Social Security Number, bank account number, date of birth, or sensitive password information. A simple donation typically only requires your name, address and payment details. If a charity asks for information that could be used for identity theft, immediately end the interaction.
The most effective way to fight charity fraud is to be an informed donor. Our free, online financial education center, Enrich, offers more information on charity scams and how to protect yourself, your business, and loved ones. By recognizing red flags, staying informed, and taking proactive steps, you ensure the money being donated supports the causes you care about and doesnāt fall into the wrong hands.
Fraud Awareness and Education
As your trusted financial partner, our responsibility is to educate members of our community about fraud and identity theft, and how to prevent it. Below is information to help you stay vigilant against fraudsters and scammers.
What are some common scams?
What is phishing, smishing, vishing?
How can I keep minors safe in a digital world?
How can I protect elders?
How do I protect my business?
How can I protect my identity?
A general rule of thumb to follow is if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Here are a few common types of scams to be aware of:
Phishing, smishing, and vishing are types of social engineering attacks designed to entice individuals to share sensitive personal information. The difference is in how individuals are targeted. Always verify the source of messages/calls, be skeptical of unsolicited messages/calls, and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all online accounts.
Today’s youth have grown up surrounded by computers, tablets, smartphones, the internet, and social media. Education is key when it comes to helping protect them while they are online. Here are some steps you can take to help ensure their safety:
- Teach them the importance and responsibility of keeping their login credentials and personal information confidential.
- Help them set their social media accounts to private.
- Let them know it’s OK to ignore texts or phone calls from unrecognized numbers and show them how to block these numbers.
- If they have a Centris VisaĀ® Debit Card, download the Centris Debit Card Companion App to create transaction alerts, set spending limits, lock and unlock their card, and more.
According to the FBI, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme. To help prevent elderly financial abuse, it is important to closely monitor and manage their finances responsibly:
- Regularly check in with elderly people in your life.
- Encourage elderly individuals to stay connected with friends, family, and community groups.
- Screen caregivers, including background checks and references.
- Regularly review bank statements and financial records for suspicious activity.
- Report suspected abuse to Adult Protective Services.
Staying vigilant is crucial for protecting your company’s financial and operational integrity. Proactive strategies like regular risk assessments can help reduce your organization’s exposure to fraudulent activities. Below is a list of common business scams:
- Business Email Compromise
- Phony Invoices
- Overpayment Scam
- Directory Scam
- Charity Pitches Scam
- Phishing
Identity theft is a serious cybercrime where unauthorized individuals exploit personal information to conduct fraudulent financial transactions or activities. Identity theft can impact individuals across all demographics and financial backgrounds. Check out our blog article, How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft, for great tips on how to help prevent identity theft from happening to you or a loved one.
Proactively Prevent Fraud
Centris Federal Credit Union offers many ways to take control of you finances and proactively prevent fraud. Hover over each tile to learn more.
Online Banking Alerts
Debit Card Companion App
Monitor Credit Reports
Click here to download our informational flyer that provides more details on how to stay vigilant against fraudsters.
Steps to Take if You’ve Been Scammed
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Change your online banking username and password and don’t share it with anyone.
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If you downloaded anything from the scammer, have a professional or reputable antivirus program scan your device for malicious software.
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Monitor your credit report and dispute fraudulent charges on your account with your financial institution.
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Book an appointment with an expert at your financial institution.
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If you are a Centris VisaĀ® Debit Card holder, download the Centris Debit Card Companion App.
Protect Yourself at Crypto ATMs in Nebraska
Staying safe in the digital world is a team effort. That’s why we want to make you aware of a new Nebraska law that provides a clear path for consumers who are scammed at crypto ATMs located in Nebraska. If you’ve been a victim of fraud, this legislation allows you to seek a refund from the ATM owner, provided you follow the specific steps.
Click the button below to read the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance’s FAQs they put together on this law.
How will Centris contact me?
Phone
- Our Member Protection Team will reach out to a member if they believe there is risk of fraud on an account.
- We will never call and ask for sensitive personal information.
Secure Access Codes (SAC)
- SAC may be sent via text or phone call to authenticate your identity when logging into Centris online banking.
- You should never provide this code to anyone.
Debit Card
- VisaĀ® Fraud Protection (Debit Card): If the Visa team detects suspicious activity with your debit card, they will contact you via email, phone call, and/or text.
- Their communication will never include links and will not require your account information, such as PINs or card numbers.
Text Alerts
- If you’ve enrolled in alerts through Centris mobile banking or the Centris Debit Card Companion App, you may receive text and/or email alerts.
- For these alerts, we will never ask you to click a link or provide personal information including credentials.
- If you have a loan with Centris and missed a loan payment, you may get a reminder text regarding the payment from 402-315-2650. This text will include a link to make a payment. If you have any concerns or are unsure if the text is coming from Centris Federal Credit Union, you can find the ‘Make a Payment’ link on our homepage at www.centrisfcu.org.
- If you apply for a digital loan with Centris you may receive text communications regarding your loan status from 402-697-6665.
Credit Card
- If there is potentially fraudulent activity with your credit card, Elan will call the card holder.
- They will never ask you for your card’s CVV (three-digit code on the back of the card) or issue/expiration date.
The Rise of the Phantom Hacking Scam
The FBI is warning about a highly sophisticated new fraud called the Phantom Hacking Scam.
Scammers are impersonating your bank or credit union, frantically calling to tell you your account has been “hacked.” Their goal? To panic you into immediately transferring your money to a “safe” account ā which is really just theirs. They may also try to trick you into downloading an app that gives them remote control of your phone.
Read our latest blog article to learn how to protect yourself from these scams.