Employees Federal Credit Union

05/13/2026

Scammer or Victim?
We often try to deter our members from scams by telling them that they could be supporting human trafficking. This is unfortunately a very true statement. The scamming business is estimated to bring in trillions every year. With that kind of money on the line the sophistication of enslaving and training people to work these scams has significantly increased. With the increase in people searching for jobs online and the enticement of more money or a better more prestigious career, many fall for these job “opportunities.” When they arrive (sometimes the criminal network even pays for their Visa, passport, etc.) they are enslaved and get their paperwork confiscated, then forced to work as a scammer. They are well trained and learn quickly that the better they produce the less pain they will endure. Many are educated and even speak multiple languages.
Aaron Kahler, CFE, founder and CEO of the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII), provided the step-by-step instructions that people trafficked for fraud get from their captors.
1. The scammer contacts the target via social media or a fake ‘wrong number’ text.

2. The scammer develops trust with the target by sharing personal information and developing a relationship. During this time, they’re assessing the target’s financial position.
3. The scammer slowly introduces the topic of cryptocurrency investment or other means of collecting funds from the target and convinces the target to invest.
4. The scammer continues to encourage the target to invest until they agree to transfer a significant amount of money to the investment platform.
Scammers or in a lot of cases the victims of human trafficking are trained to understand and work on their victim’s natural desire for love and acceptance and a desire to live better.
We can use this information to better understand our members and talk about these situations with them. Being sensitive to the fact that both the member and possibly the scammer are victims can help us. Be aware that the scammer will have counter measures to anything that we tell or advise our member. They are trained well and if they are a victim of human trafficking, they will continue to do everything they can to scam our member.
Let’s work together to continue to fight against this heinous crime of human trafficking. The only way to stop it is to make it unprofitable for the crime syndicates. Continuing to understand what drives this and educating our membership is a key step in making a difference

04/01/2026

03/25/2026

⭐ Apply Here or visit us in person ‼➡https://dsotapi.onlinecu.com/employeesfed/LoanApplications/LOANHTML.html?docid=1

03/25/2026

Don't Get Scammed! Have You Been Instructed To Do Any Of The Following?
• Act Now! Scammers often pressure you to act immediately—whether it's sending money, buying a gift card, or providing personal information. Urgency is a key sign of a scam.

• Only Say What I Tell You to Say. If someone instructs you to lie to your spouse, financial adviser, or credit union, it's a scam. Don’t fall for it.

• Don't Trust Anyone — They're In On It. Scammers want you to feel isolated. Don’t let them trick you into distrusting those who can help you.

• Go To A Bitcoin ATM. Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise. Be wary of anyone encouraging you to use a Bitcoin ATM.

• Do [This] Or You'll Be Arrested Any threat of arrest or deportation unless you provide money or information is a lie. The FTC emphasizes that this is always a scam.

• Don't Hang Up. If you're asked to stay on the phone while you buy a gift card or withdraw money, it’s a scam. They want to monitor you and prevent you from changing your mind.

• Move Your Money To Protect It. Never follow instructions from a stranger to move your money. This is a common scam tactic.

• Withdraw Cash And Give It To [Anyone]. Never hand over cash to anyone, no matter who they claim to be. The FTC advises against giving cash to couriers or delivering it anywhere.

• Buy Gift Cards. Fraudsters often ask for payment via gift cards. Once they have the PIN numbers, your money is gone. Don't buy gift cards to pay anyone.

• Send a Check to a Third Party. Never send a check (personal, cashier’s, or otherwise)—to anyone claiming it’s part of an official investigation. Real government agencies will never ask you to send money to a third party. This is a common scam tactic used to pressure victims into cooperating under false threats.

If you have been instructed to do any of these things, please notify a credit union representative immediately.