Fraud Alerts - Air Academy Federal Credit Union

Be Aware Of Scams

AAFCU will NEVER contact you to ask you for your account number, online banking ID, online banking password, PIN, secure access code, or social security number, and we will NEVER send you a link by text or email asking you for your account number, online banking password, secure access code or PIN.

AAFCU will NEVER ask you to take cash out of your account to protect your account.

If you receive a call, text, or email and have doubts about the legitimacy of the communication, or have recently provided your information by phone, text, or email, call us as soon as possible at 719.593.8600 or 800.223.1983.

Fraud and Scams

Every day, people fall victim to scams. Some focus on obtaining your personal information such as your account numbers, social security numbers, passwords, and personal identification numbers (PINs), while other scams target your bank accounts directly. Allowing access to your personal information puts your identity and finances at risk, which can have serious, long-lasting effects on your future.

Scams often involve someone posing as your financial institution through an email, text message or phone call to trick you into providing them with your sensitive information such as bank account number, pins or social security number, which they can use to commit fraud.

Romance Scam:

A romance scam is when you meet someone online and begin an online romance. Shortly after connecting, they begin asking for money for various reasons.

Here are some examples of what they could be asking for:

Asking for money to help with an emergency

Financial help paying for a trip, airline ticket, hotel stay or rental car

Help pay for bills, or assistance cashing a check for them

Help with collecting pay or retirement money

They may even ask you to help them move or obtain items like gold.

Be cautious and verify their identity before sending any money. If you need assistance, contact us at 719.593.8600 or 800.223.1983 and we would be happy to help

Don't Get Scammed!

Be Aware of Emails and Text Messages

We will never send you a link by text or email asking you for your account number, online banking password, secure access code or PIN.

If you have replied to or clicked on a link from a text message or email, please call us immediately, 719.593.8600 or 800.223.1983

Refund or Overpayment Scams:

A scam where you are contacted by someone claiming to be from a large technology company, virus software vendor or online retailers. They will inform you they have refunded or overpaid you for a subscription or service they have already performed and will request you pay the overage amount through gift cards, wire transfers, or cash. The refunds could be thousands of dollars above what they are claiming you owe for this subscription or service. This refund or overpaid amount could be money moved within your own accounts. Always verify your account before sending out money to ensure accuracy and money has been moved around without your consent.

Review your recent account history within online and mobile banking from another device or contact us if you're unsure of recent activity in your accounts. Once the money is gone, recovering this money is not a guarantee. Be sure to verify what this person is saying before sending any money.

Common Scams

Watch these educational videos to learn more about common scams and how they may affect you.

Watch Now

Other Common Scams

Work-at-Home Scam

A work-at-home opportunity for mystery shopping, stuffing envelopes, processing payments, purchasing supplies for your 'new job', or you have been requested to send advance pay for services not yet performed.
Lottery Scam

You've received a letter or email indicating you won the lottery! However, you must pay taxes or a fee up front in order to receive your winnings. Have you recently entered a sweepstakes or lottery? Was this sweepstakes or lottery outside the United States?1 If you are unsure about this letter or email, contact us and a member service representative will be happy to assist you.
Inheritance Scam

You receive a letter or email indicating a relative has passed away and in order to receive your inheritance, you need to pay fees, taxes, or legal fees up front. Another common scam is a stranger asking you to pay a small fee so they can move their inheritance to a bank in the United States, with the promise of receiving a small portion of their inheritance in return.
Online Acquaintance Scam

A new friendship created online, or an old acquaintance is requesting your assistance to receive money. They may ask you to cash a check or provide your personal login information to deposit checks or transfer funds into your checking account because they are unable to receive money in their own account. Be sure to verify who they are and their request before assisting them.
Unexplained Check/Online Marketplace Scam

You receive a check in the mail unexpectedly, or an anticipated check is greater than agreed upon. Do not deposit the check! Let us review the check for you to ensure it's valid before you deposit it.
Social Security Benefit Suspension Scam

Social Security beneficiaries have received letters through the U.S. Mail stating their payments will be suspended or discontinued unless they call a phone number referenced in the letter. Scammers are then misleading beneficiaries into providing personal information or payment through retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency such as bitcoin or crypto currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain regular benefit payments. Remember, the Social Security Administration will never threaten you, promise to increase your benefits if you pay them, ask for payment via gift card, wire transfer or internet currency such as bitcoin or crypto currency.
Emergency Scam

A "relative" contacts you stating they have a medical or other emergency and need money right away. They will address you as Dad, Grandma, Uncle etc. but the information they provide on where to send the funds is an individual you do not know. Before helping, verify this person's information to ensure you are speaking to an actual relative and not somebody pretending to be related to you. If the location, name of the person, or their story doesn't seem right, give us a call and we would be happy to assist you.
Payments made by gift cards

Scammers often request payments be made via gift card. This typically happens when making an online purchase on an unfamiliar website, in an online romance and refund or overpayment scams. If you are unsure about a request for payment, contact us and member service representative will be happy to assist.

One easy way to protect yourself is to NEVER send funds without doing your research and asking questions. Never give out your account number, account password, online banking login ID, social security number, secure access code, or PIN. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

A short phone call could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run!

If any of the scenarios above sound familiar, please contact us as soon as possible.

719.593.8600

800.223.1983

If you receive an email or text requesting this information, do not click any links or respond. If you receive a call requesting this information, hang up and notify us at 719.593.8600 or 800.223.1983 as soon as possible.

Security Tips

Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Information.

Never provide personal information.

No legitimate company will call or email you to confirm your account or personal information.

Call Your Financial Institution Directly

Call your Financial Institution's official phone number to verify (or report) the suspicious activity. Scammers often use high pressure tactics to scare you into sharing information.

Automated Calls

Hang up on automated calls claiming to be the IRS, FBI, or local law enforcement. If a message is left with a phone number to call, do not call the number back.

Be Cautious of Emails

Emails may ask you to click a link to verify account information from a legitimate company where you have an account, but the email could be fraudulent. Contact the company directly using a phone number or website you know is valid.

Strong Passwords

Use strong passwords and PINs – and change them regularly! Don’t use names and numbers that are easy to guess (birth date, house number, numbers in a sequence, etc.). Do not use one password for everything.

Mobile Security

Lock your phone with a unique pin number to prevent anyone from accessing it if lost or stolen.
Use a paid Virtual Private Network (VPN) service when on public WiFi or when traveling.

Use Two-Factor Authentication with important online services such as email and Financial Services.
Uninstall Smartphone Apps you are no longer using.

Staying Safe Online

Use a modern internet browser and keep it up to date.
Change your usernames and passwords frequently.

Install and run Anti-Virus software on your computer. Allow your Anti-Virus software to scan your computer on a regular basis.
Use Two-Factor Authentication with important online services.

Strong Passwords

Use a trusted password manager to manage the different passwords for each service you utilize. When possible, create unique usernames and strong passwords. A strong password should consist of a combination of lower case letters, upper case letters, numbers and special characters (i.e. @, &, !, etc.) Many password managers include browser add-ons and mobile apps. Remember to never share your login credentials.

Member Security Education

AAFCU has partnered with KnowBe4, a leader in security awareness training, to offer a free interactive course in Home Internet Security for our members.

During this course you will learn the 10 important tips for passwords, how to safely bank online, how to protect children online and more. You can complete the course at your own pace or skip to the topics that are important to you.

Use the link below to access the KnowBe4 site and use the password homecourse to get started.

Click Here

Closed - Columbus Day, October 10

Security and Fraud Awareness