Security and Fraud
Prevention Center
Together we can help keep your
accounts safe.
How
BankFund
protects you.
See how we are working
continuously to make your
banking
safer.
Learn More
How you
can protect
your accounts.
Learn how you can significantly reduce your risk of fraud and
identity theft.
Protect Yourself
Learn
more
about threats.
Take a closer look at some
recent scams so you
can be
prepared.
Scams
Fraudulent activity is on the
rise.
If it happens to you, the
sooner you report it the better.
Contact us today so we can
help.
Report it
online with our
chat tool
Send a secure
message using
Digital Banking
Call member
services at
202-212-6400
Call 800-928-7328 in the U.S. or
View international toll-free numbers.
How to protect yourself before sharing personal information:
-
Set up alerts for account activity
Alerts provide timely notifications whenever suspicious activity occurs on your accounts. -
Add 2-factor authentication
Set up additional account verification safeguards to prevent unauthorized logins. -
Choose strong passwords
Use at least 12 characters with a mixture of special characters and numbers.
-
Keep contact information updated
Make sure your accounts are up-to-date with your most recent address and email.
-
Go paperless with eStatements
Sign up for eStatements to prevent mail fraud or statement theft.
-
Use the latest browsers and verify URLs
Watch out for URLs that aren't secure and keep your browsers and operating system updated.
The latest scams to be aware of
ACH Fraud
Scams
ACH fraud is on the rise. Please keep your account number safe and be very careful when sharing this information.
Common Types of Identity Theft
There are many ways that scammers can attempt to steal your identity. Learn more to keep yourself safe.
Website
Phishing Scams
Fake webpages are often used to steal and capture
personal and financial information from you.
Beware of
Amazon Scams
Scammers will do (and say) just about anything to trick you into believing them — including acting like they are Amazon.
We take our commitment to
safeguarding your finances seriously. Here are just a few of the ways we’re working to protect
you.
We continuously monitor your accounts in search of suspicious activity. If our systems identify something that doesn’t seem right, we can inform you via text, email or phone call. We also give you the ability to set up custom alerts on ALL of your BankFund account features and products for added peace of mind.
When you log in to Digital Banking and our BankFund mobile app, your sensitive information is converted into a coded format to ensure that it’s protected and only accessible by authorized people.
From two-factor authentication and biometric logins to regular enhancements to our systems and protocols, we are continuously evaluating our systems and implementing updates to proactively address threats before they can affect you.
By measuring more than 100 different characteristics of your voice, our system creates
a “voiceprint” unique to you. Once your voiceprint is on file, your identity can be
securely verified each time you call us. It’s fast, easy, and a reliable way to confirm
your identity.
Our advanced systems give us the ability to identify suspicious credit card activity in real time. And we’ve developed tools so you can monitor your cards, too. With the BFSFCU Cards App, you can set up alerts, lock and unlock your cards, and more! Scammers will attempt to access to your cards in numerous ways, so we’re always on the lookout for unusual activity.
Learn more about
threats.
To help protect yourself from fraud and keep your financial and personal
information safe,
it’s always smart to stay informed about the latest methods being used by
fraudsters.
Automatic alerts make it easy to keep an eye on changes to your accounts. You can receive a push notification, text or email whenever a specific type of activity occurs, including:
- Balance changes
- Transactions
- Withdrawal confirmations
- Loan payments
- Log in to Digital Banking or our mobile app
- Select your name from the drop-down menu (top right corner)
- Under “Settings” click or tap on “Manage Alerts”
- Select ‘Manage Recipients’ to decide how alert notifications are to be received – via text or email
Unlike paper statements that arrive in the mail and can easily be delivered to the
wrong address, lost or stolen, eStatements are encrypted and password protected to keep
your sensitive information safer. Plus, you don’t have to make room to file them away –
or dispose of them properly.
- Log in to Digital Banking or our mobile app
- Select the “Self Service” menu
- Click or tap on the eStatement Enrollment link
If your password provides one way to authenticate your identity, “two-factor”
authentication adds an additional level of security by requiring that you enter a unique
code delivered via text or email after you start the login process.
A strong password is an important “first line of defense” against unauthorized access to your accounts. Choose your passwords wisely – and don’t forget to change them regularly.
- Use at least 12 characters with a mixture of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters (#, $, ^, &,!,?, {, >, etc.)
- Avoid passwords based on personal information such as birthdays, home addresses, and pet’s names
- Consider using a “passphrase” based on words so that your password is more memorable while still strong. For example, start with the sentence "My children John and Mary are 12 and 16 years old." Then use the first letters of the words, characters and the numbers to create the password: McJ&Ma12&16yo
- Don’t reuse passwords you’ve used on other accounts
- Change your passwords
regularly
Most people are handling more of their everyday finances online these days – so it’s more important than ever to take steps to reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud.
- Do not access your personal or financial information when using public Wi-Fi as it is not secure
- Only log into secure sites with URLs that start with https:// or have a padlock symbol
- Don’t stay permanently signed into accounts
- Change your device’s setting so it does not automatically connect to nearby Wi-Fi
- Use your mobile data instead of Wi-Fi because it is usually encrypted
- Encrypt your network to scramble the information being shared
- Change your router’s preset passwords to something unique and secure
- Protect each device that is connected to your router
- Regularly update your security software, operating system, browsers and apps
One of the simplest and yet most important things you can do to protect yourself from fraud is to make sure the information associated with your BankFund accounts is current and accurate. That way we can notify you about suspicious transactions and help prevent authorized access or identity theft.
- Log in to Digital Banking or our mobile app
- Click your name in the upper right-hand corner
- Select Profile
- Choose the contact method you want to confirm/update
Spoofing Financial Institutions
Fraudsters send emails falsely claiming to be from a legitimate company in hopes of luring consumers to a "spoofed" website.
Protect yourself Online
Learn how to reduce the risk that someone will illegally
gain access to your private information or
financial accounts.
Fraud Prevention Tips
Follow these tips to stay safe and on top of your accounts.
Prevent Identity Theft
Learn how to protect yourself from identity theft.
What to do if you're a victim of Identity Theft
Learn how to report a theft of
your identity.
Common Methods used to Steal your Identity
Learn about common ways your personal information can be stolen.
Mail Safety
Learn tips on how to prevent your mail and financial information from being intercepted.
Mortgage Solicitations
BankFund will never send mailers requesting members take immediate action regarding their loans.
Protect your Debit and Credit Cards
Learn how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Send Money
Use Zelle® to send money to friends and family, regardless of where they bank.
Fraud Prevention Tips for Students
Keeping your money safe is our top priority, but you play a key role by making sound decisions.
Using Checks Safely
Learn the precautions to take when writing and sending checks.
ATM Security
Learn how to protect yourself when using an ATM.
7 Tips for a Safe Trip
How to protect your accounts for a worry-free vacation!
What would a Scammer Say?
Protect yourself from fraud by recognizing the tactics scammers use.
Shopping Online Safely
Shopping online can make you an easy target for scammers, consider our tips on how to do so safely!
Website Phishing Scams
Fake webpages are often used to steal and capture personal and financial information from you.
ACH Fraud
ACH fraud is on the rise. Please keep your account number safe and be very careful when sharing this information.
Amazon Scams
Amazon has been targeted as a favorite to impersonate by fraudsters due to its widespread popularity amongst consumers.
Gift Card Payment Scams
Gift cards are the most common payment method that scammers seek from their targets, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Cryptocurrency Scams
Scammers have turned their attention to cryptocurrencies for one simple reason: payments made in cryptocurrency are difficult to trace.
What To Do if Scammed
Learn about next steps if you believe you were scammed, gave out personal info or access to devices.
Romance Scams
As more people turn to online dating websites, apps, and social media platforms, scammers have also found these avenues to be lucrative in exploiting individuals.
Job Scams
Job scams can take many forms, but they all prey on the vulnerability of job seekers.
Online Investment Scams
Online investing has become quite common, but if you are
contacted with an investment opportunity that seems too good to be true, it’s likely
a
scam.
Real Estate and Mortgage Wire Scams
One of the latest schemes involves targeting individuals who are in the midst of purchasing a home.
Phone Scams
Phone calls from fraudsters are more than just an annoying nuisance, they are one of the most dangerous type of scams.
IRS and Tax Scams
Have you, or someone you know, received a call from the IRS or the Social Security Administration (SSA) asking for money? Very likely those calls were made by crooks.
Computer Repair and Tech Support Scams
These are most often executed in one of two ways – through unsolicited phone calls or from pop-up warnings on computers.
Charity Scams
By doing your research, you can protect yourself from falling victim to a charity or donation scam and ensure that funds are going to the people that need it.
Advance Fee Scams
Victims are asked to make a small advance or upfront payment for goods, services or financial gain that promises a significant reward that never materializes.
Check Scams
Fake checks are used in many types of scams and the best way to protect yourself is to stay vigilant.
Common Email Scams
Fraudsters send emails pretending to be from legitimate institutions and request sensitive information.
PayPal Scams
Legitimate companies, like PayPal, will never rush or threaten you, or ask for your personal information.
Text Scams
Fraudsters are posing as legitimate entities and sending text messages to obtain your financial information.
How to Help a Victim of a Scam
Learn how to help if you suspect someone you know of being scammed.