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Security & Fraud Center

As a reminder: First Northern Credit Union will NEVER call or text you and ask you to provide your PIN, CVV (3-digit code on the back of your card), one-time-passcode, full credit or debit account number, or online banking credentials/password. If you receive a call or text from someone identifying themselves as First Northern Credit Union, do not provide this information.

If you receive a suspicious call or text, or if you have inadvertently provided this information, contact us immediately at 888.328.8677. We welcome and encourage these types of calls so we can help protect you and your accounts right away. If there is any question or concern, always reach out!

Common Scams

 
Cybercrime

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Credit Repair Scams

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Government Imposter Scams

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Investment Fraud

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Phishing Scams

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Vishing Scams

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SMSishing Scams

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Tax Fraud

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How To Protect Yourself

Fraudsters love to target online banking credentials and credit card information. These calls, emails, or text messages will appear to come from First Northern Credit Union, but may be a spoofed identity.  

Please note: First Northern Credit Union will NEVER call or text you and ask you to provide your PIN, CVV (3-digit code on the back of your card), one-time-passcode, full credit or debit card number, or online banking credentials/password.

If you have opted in, we WILL contact you via phone, email, or text message to verify transactions that we flag as suspicious. However, when verifying your transaction activity, we will only ask you to reply Yes or No if you have recently conducted those transactions. We will NEVER ask for a PIN or other personal information to verify your transaction activity. 

If you receive a call, email, or text message from someone posing as First Northern Credit Union, delete the communication and/or hang up immediately and contact us to secure your accounts. 

Scams are often hard to detect at a quick glance; however, these common red flags can help. Keep in mind…it is not uncommon for fraudsters to use intimidation tactics and urgent requests.

  • Don’t always trust the name - criminals will spoof the email name to appear to be a legitimate sender
  • Check for misspelled words, bad grammar, and/or typos within the content
  • Be cautious of clicking links and opening attachments – Don’t click unless you are confident of the sender or are expecting the attachment
  • Do not provide personal or account information when asked. Openly sharing information on social media can provide the necessary information to impersonate you or answer some challenge questions.
  • Do not share a one-time passcode sent via text or email to your device(s)
  • Check email salutations - many legitimate businesses will use a personal salutation
  • Be suspicious of “urgent” or “immediate” response needed or “unauthorized login attempt” of your account
  • Know the IRS or Social Security Administration will not contact you by phone, email, text or social media
  • Don’t believe everything you see. Brand logos, names and addresses may appear legitimate
  • Be suspicious of random or unusual groups of people (e.g., all last names begin with same letter) on the to/recipient list
  • Watch for emails or texts that appear to be a reply to a message that you didn’t actually send
  • Monitor the sender’s email address for suspicious URLs & domains – using similar letters and numbers
  • If something seems suspicious; contact that source with a new email or phone call, rather than just responding or replying directly to the email, text, or call
  • Be wary of offers that appear too good to be true, require fast action, or instill a sense of fear
  • Keep social media accounts private and be cautious who you’re connecting with
  • Never share anything related to your credit union account, transactional history, or identifying information in an unprotected public forum

Security & Account Alerts

  • Real-Time Security Alerts within FNCU online banking offer an extra layer of security by texting or emailing you about specific security-related account activity, or when a transaction exceeds a specified threshold. 
  • Account Alerts within FNCU online banking sends texts and emails (not in real-time) to alert you each time there is a purchase, deposit, or other transaction. For real-time account alerts, please use Visa Purchase Alerts by enrolling here.  

SecurLock® Credit Card Control Application

Allows members to control the how / where / when their credit cards are used via their mobile device. Turn your card on or off with the touch of a button. Set location-based controls. Block international transactions or set spending limits.

SecurLock App - Download on the App Store   SecurLock App - Get it on Google Play

Account Alerts

Set up account alerts within online banking to be notified of specific transactions on your account(s). Note: these are not real-time alerts. For real-time alerts, please use Visa Purchase Alerts, above. 

Keep your finances safe while you shop during this holiday season. The NCUA Fraud Prevention Center educates consumers on how to recognize common scams and take action if you think you are a victim of fraud. It also provides useful tips for protecting your finances.

Criminals and scammers use many techniques to fool potential victims. NCUA has put together a list of tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of a holiday scam. Take a look at a few of the newest and most common scams you should watch for during the holiday season.

A new scam cropping up more and more recently is related to fake online retailers. The typical shopping scam starts with a bogus website, mobile app or social media ad. Some faux e-stores are invented from whole cloth, but many mimic trusted retailers, with familiar logos and slogans and a URL that’s easily mistaken for the real thing. They offer popular items at a fraction of the usual cost and promise perks like free shipping and overnight delivery, exploiting the premium online shoppers put on price and speed.

 Some of these copycats do deliver merchandise — shoddy knockoffs worth less than even the “discount” price you mistook for a once-in-a-lifetime deal on, say, Tiffany watches or Timberland boots. More often, you’ll wait in vain for your purchase to arrive. Reports to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of undelivered orders quadrupled from 2015 to 2019, and no-shows reached record highs in the spring of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic fueled a spike in online shopping.

And your losses might not stop there. Scammers may seed phony sites, apps, or links in pop-up ads, and email coupons with malware that infects your device and harvests personal information for use in identity theft. You need not forgo the ease and endless selection of online shopping, but these precautions can help you make sure you get what you pay for. Learn how to spot the warning signs, and some Do's and Don'ts.