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.