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Website Phishing Scams

Fraud Prevention Center

 

As part of our ongoing efforts to safeguard your online security and funds, we want to alert you about the growing threat of spoofed website fraud.

Scammers are increasingly creating fake websites that mimic legitimate financial institutions' websites to deceive you and make you log into a mimicked Digital Banking system to steal your digital banking credentials.

Please read carefully for crucial tips on how to avoid falling prey and protect your identity and funds. Remember, we are here to support you with any security concerns.

 


  1. ACCESS YOUR DIGITAL BANKING BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE DIRECTLY AT BFSFCU.org and save it to the "favorites" in your browser.

  2. USE OUR DIGITAL BANKING MOBILE APPS.

  3. AVOID USING SEARCH ENGINES TO ACCESS A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION'S WEBSITE. If you have to use a search engine, please use the following precautions.
    • Do not click on sponsored ads. Beware of sponsored ads as they will appear first in Google search results and scammers use these to direct users to fake websites.
    • Verify your search results. Scrutinize search results by looking for the correct web address and a padlock icon in the URL, indicating a secure connection.

  4. ALWAYS VERIFY YOUR URLs. Ensure the website address is genuine and check for spelling mistakes, extra or missing characters, or slight domain discrepancies.

  5. ENABLE TRANSACTION ALERTS ON ALL YOUR ACCOUNTS. Log in to the mobile app to set up real-time alerts when a transaction is posted to your accounts. Click here to read more.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU'VE ENCOUNTERED SPOOFING

  1. DO NOT ENTER SENSTIVE INFORMATION. Immediately close the website and report it to the legitimate organization.

  2. REPORT PHISHING ATTEMPTS. Inform the relevant authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and contact us immediately.

  3. REPORT UNAUTHORIZED TRANSACTIONS. Please contact us immediately, and we will assist you in recovering your funds.

  4. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY.

 
Following these guidelines significantly reduces the risk of falling victim to spoofed website fraud. Stay vigilant and protect your funds.

 

RESOURCES:

How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams
Internet Crime Report: https://www.ic3.gov/media/annualreport/2018_IC3Report.pdf
How to spot a Phishing site: https://www.globalsign.com/en/blog/how-to-spot-a-fake-website