Telephone Scammers

Protect yourself from telephone fraud.

While Heritage Federal Credit Union might generate an automated call to you to verify certain activity on your account as part of our fraud prevention methods, we will not call you asking for your full social security number, account number, security code on back of your debit or credit card, or a PIN that you would’ve be texted. Here are some basic rules to protect yourself against telephone scammers attempting to get information about your account:

• Don't Call Me. The first rule of protecting yourself against a telephone scam is to ignore pleas and pitches of anyone who calls you uninvited, including sales people, charities and even companies with whom you already do business. You have no way to confirm they are who they say they are. Don't rely on your caller ID, either. Fraudsters are able to spoof (fake) a phone # to look like it is coming from a legitimate source.
   
• I'll Call You. If the callers insist they have to speak with you — for example, they are from your bank and need to give you important information — tell them you will call them directly. At this point, fraudsters will often offer a phone number for you to call as proof they are who they say they are. Don't believe them. Instead of accepting the phone number they offer, you're much safer looking up the number independently — in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet. If the caller says he's with a company that you're already doing business with — such as a utility or phone company — you can also call the number on the monthly billing statement.
   
• Take Your Time. Scammers often try to create a false deadline. If you feel pressured to make a decision or to provide private information about yourself or your bank account, hang up and contact us directly to verify the legitimacy of the request.
   
• Be Part of the Solution. If you feel that you have had someone call you fraudulently, please feel free to call the credit union at 812.253.6928, Option1.