What to Do if You’re a Fraud Victim

If you or someone you know may be a victim of fraud, we’re here to help. Read on to learn the steps to take if you experience 11 of the most common scam and fraud situations.
 
If you’re not sure which situation applies or you have other questions, call 800.358.8228 or visit your local Patelco branch. Our team members are here to listen, offer support, and help you take steps to make your situation a little bit easier.

Your first steps

Choose the situation you or a loved one is experiencing from the list below, and we’ll share which steps to take, including how Patelco can help.

1. I’m a victim of identity theft.
2. I’m a victim of an employment scam.
3. I’m a victim of elder financial abuse.
4. I’m a victim of a lottery or prize scam.
5. I’m a victim of a tech support scam.
6. I’m a victim of a romance scam.
7. I was a victim of fraudsters claiming to be with the IRS or Social Security.
8. I gave out my card information.
9. I gave out my online banking information.
10. I agreed to cash a check or money order for someone else.
11. Someone made a fraudulent charge to my card

I’m a victim of:

Identity theft

Identity theft happens when someone gets your personal information — such as your bank account numbers or Social Security number — and uses it to open new accounts or make other financial transactions in your name.
 
If your identity has been stolen, or you suspect it has, take these steps to reclaim it.

1. Get your free credit report
   Request your report at annualcreditreport.com and review it for discrepancies
2. Notify your financial institutions.
   Contact your banks, credit unions, credit card issuers, and other accounts, including Patelco at 800.358.8228.
3. Place a free fraud alert
   Contact one of the three main credit bureaus to report the fraud. That credit agency must then tell the other two.
   Equifax – equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services – 800.685.1111
   Experian – experian.com/help – 888.397.3742
   TransUnion – transunion.com/credit-help – 888.806.1627

   When a fraud alert is in effect, anyone who receives a credit application in your name should call you to verify your identity and confirm that you’re the one who really applied. (These will last for one year.)

4. Consider freezing your credit. This is especially important if an identity thief has used your personal information or if sensitive data like your Social Security number has been released in a data breach. Contact all three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to request a credit freeze. This will prevent anyone (including you) from opening new credit in your name. The service is free, and the credit freeze remains in effect until you lift it.
5. Call any company where the fraudster has opened an account in your name. Speak to their fraud department.
6. Alert your health insurance company. The fraudster may try to use your identity to obtain health care.
7. Contact ChexSystems ChexSystems is an agency that tracks your banking activity. Go to chexsystems.com (which offers several self-serve options) or call 888.478.6536. Ask them to place an Identity Theft Security Alert on your debit file. This helps prevent someone from getting accounts and services approved in your name. When you notify ChexSystems of fraud, they will block fraudulent activity from being added to your report. Next, ask ChexSystems to check for any recent inquiries made under your name or Social Security number, which may reveal fraudulent inquiries.
8. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Use the FTC’s online portal to report the identity theft.
9. Report the incident to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) The IC3 is the FBI’s center for cyber-enabled crime. Notifying the IC3 may help the FBI bring cybercriminals to justice.
10. Report the theft to your local police Once you’ve filed an FTC Identity Theft Report, print a copy and go to your local police station. You should bring:
    • a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report
    • a government-issued ID with a photo
    • proof of your address (such as a utility bill, rental agreement, or mortgage statement)
    • any proof you have of the identity theft
    • a printout of the FTC’s Memo to Law Enforcement

    Tell the police you need to file a report, then ask for a copy of the report. This may help you close accounts opened in your name and remove bogus charges from your accounts.

Learn about how to prevent identity theft in the future.

Employment scam

Job scams tend to be requests for personal information or money. Examples include:

• a (fake) job offer that requires you to pay for training. Scammers often post ads, for example, for illegitimate data entry jobs.
• an e-mail from a fraudster claiming to be a recruiter who asks for personal information such as your bank account number.
• a notification that you’re a finalist for a job that you never applied for. You may be invited to an online interview that requires that you input sensitive personal information.
• a message from a scammer posing as a career consultant who offers to polish your résumé for a fee.
• a message from a hiring agency that asks you to pay a screening fee. The scammer may ask you to pay with a gift card or via wire transfer.

If you’re the victim of a job scam:

1. Call Patelco at 800.358.8228. We’ll help you sort through any part of the scam that may affect your Patelco accounts.
2. Report the scam to the FTC using their online form. Select the option for scams related to jobs and money-making opportunities.
3. If you’ve given out your credit card information, online banking information, or other sensitive data, change it. Request new cards and create new logins and passwords. For help, contact Patelco and any other institutions where you have accounts that may be impacted.

Elder financial abuse

Financial exploitation is a fast-growing form of abuse of seniors. It happens when someone misuses or takes money belonging to an elder for their own personal benefit.

Here are some common financial signs of elder abuse:

• Unusual activity in bank accounts, including large, frequent, or unexplained withdrawals
• ATM withdrawals by an older person who has never used a debit or ATM card before
• Withdrawals from bank accounts or transfers between accounts that cannot be explained
• Large withdrawals from a previously inactive account
• New joint bank accounts or credit card accounts
• The sudden appearance of credit card balances, or new credit card accounts or joint accounts showing up in the person’s name
• New “best friends” or “romantic interests,” especially someone wanting to accompany the older person to the bank
• Unusual purchases
• Checks sent to unknown people
• Unexpected changes to the person’s will or power of attorney document

If you or someone you know is a victim of elder financial abuse, follow these steps.

1. Call Patelco at 800.358.8228 or visit one of our local branches. Our caring team is available to listen.
2. Report the abuse to California Adult Protective Services (APS). Call 833.401.0832 and, when prompted, enter your ZIP Code to be connected to your local office. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Lottery or prize scam

Lottery or prize scams usually begin with an unexpected email, phone call, social media message, or mailer that claims you have won something, perhaps a new car or a large sum of money. But to claim your prize, you need to pay a fee or share your bank account information or social security number. A fraudster may contact you about a sweepstakes and invite you to pay a fee to increase your chances of winning, which is illegal. Anyone who asks for a fee or financial information to collect a prize (or boost your chances of winning) is a scammer.
 
If you believe you’ve been the victim of a lottery or prize scam – especially if you gave the fraudsters your account information – contact Patelco at 800.358.8228 so we can help resolve any impact on your account.

Tech support scam

Tech support scams may start with a phone call, email, or online advertisement telling you that there’s something wrong with your computer. The scammer might claim that it needs to be upgraded or has a virus. The FTC offers a great guide to spotting tech support scams.
 
If you think you’ve been a victim of tech support fraud, follow these steps:

1. Call Patelco at 800.358.8228. We want to help you address any potential effects on your account.
2. Report the scam to the FTC. Use this form and select the option for phone and internet services.
3. Change your passwords. The scammer may have gotten access to your login information.
4. Have the affected device professionally cleaned. Take your device to a reputable electronics servicer who can help you install and run antivirus software to remove the threat. Many Best Buy and Staples stores offer this service, as do independent local computer shops. If it’s an older device, you may consider recycling it as e-waste and buying a new device that’s free of the scammer’s software.

Romance scam

Romance scams occur on online dating sites, in online game forums, on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, and in other apps and websites. The scammer will convince another person that the two of them are in a romantic relationship – often with romantic gestures, flirtatious messages, and flattering compliments. Then the scammer will ask for money and will typically find excuses to avoid meeting in person.
 
As your partner on your financial journey, Patelco is here to help – not to judge. So if you think you’re a victim of a romance scam, visit one of our local branches, so we can talk about your concerns and figure out how to keep you and your accounts safe. You can also call us at 800.358.8228. We’re here to talk.

IRS or Social Security scam

Calls, e-mails, or text messages that appear to be from the IRS, Social Security, or your local law enforcement are increasingly common – and the fraudsters often claim you’ll be punished or arrested if you don’t cooperate.
 
Don’t fall for it. Neither the IRS, nor the Social Security Administration, nor your local law enforcement will call to resolve problems with your taxes or Social Security account. If the message includes the name of an employee at the agency, that’s also a tip-off that it’s fake.
 
Hang up and call Patelco at 800.358.8228. We’ll help you figure out your next steps, especially if you’ve provided information or money to the fraudsters.

I gave out my card information

Debit and credit cards are a favorite target for fraudsters because card transactions are so common. While some schemes involve computer hacking, many fraudsters now reach out to people directly to ask for card information.
 
You might receive a text or phone call that appears to come from your bank or credit union, or a “friend” reaching out via social media. In some cases, the fraudster will promise you something in return for sharing your card information.
 
If you’ve given your Patelco card information out to someone, call us immediately at 800.358.8228 so we can help protect your account from damage. If you shared information about another credit or debit card, contact the issuer.
 
If your accounts are associated with a specific email address or phone number, those accounts may also be compromised, so take steps to secure them. Change your email password, for example, and enable two-factor authentication.
 
It’s also a good idea to report fraud to the FTC and the FBI’s IC3.

On Social Media? Take Care

Scammers often learn about their would-be victims on social media, so check your privacy settings and be careful about what you share. It’s best to connect with only people you know, and be suspicious of anyone who tries to come across as a friend or family member.

I gave out my online banking information

Patelco will never contact you to ask for your online banking password – not by phone, not by text, not by email, and not in person. There is no reason for anyone to have your online banking credentials. If someone asks, it is a scam.
 
If you’ve given out your online banking password, call us immediately at 800.358.8228 so we can help you reset your credentials and protect your accounts.
 
It’s also a good idea to report fraud to the FTC and the FBI’s IC3. This helps law enforcement track down cybercriminals.

I agreed to cash a check or money order for someone else

If someone asks you to cash a check or money order in exchange for something, such as a portion of the money, you’re probably dealing with a scammer. The check or money order will likely turn out to be fake and will bounce.
 
In one variation of this scam, the fraudster pays for an item they’re buying from you – but pays more than the item’s price. Next, the scammer asks you to give back the difference in cash. So you’ve now deposited a fake check into your account, and you give the scammer real money. Some scammers give you a real check that was stolen, so it may take weeks for the financial institution to realize that it’s fraudulent.
 
If someone asks you to cash a check or money order for them – especially in exchange for something – it’s very likely fraudulent.
 
Visit one of our local branches or call us at 800.358.8228 immediately so we can address the situation.

Someone made a fraudulent charge to my card

If you see a charge that you don’t recognize or have an issue with a purchase – against your credit, debit, ATM, or HSA account – you should submit a dispute or claim within 60 days of the date it appeared on your statement.
 
Many times, disputed charges are legitimate purchases that you may not recognize or remember. So before filing a claim, review your recent receipts or online shopping emails.
 
The easiest and fastest way to submit a fraud claim or dispute is at Patelco Online^™ or via our Mobile App.
 
On your laptop or desktop:

• Log in to Patelco and hover over Accounts in the main menu.
• Tap or click on Accounts and choose the account with the fraudulent charge.
• Select the dispute option next to the relevant transaction.

In our Mobile App:

1. Log in and select the fraudulent transaction.
2. Look for the Dispute link and follow the prompts.

We encourage you to file a dispute online or via our Mobile App. But if you encounter problems, call us at 800.358.8228, visit a local branch, or write to Patelco Credit Union, Card Services Department, PO Box 2227, Merced, CA 95344-0227.