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Fraud Alerts



At Financial Plus, your security is our top priority. Protecting our members is important to us, so we want to keep you in the loop on current fraud and scams. Our team works to monitor and identify emerging threats, so you can trust us to provide you with timely and accurate information.

We will never ask you for your PIN number(s), full debit/credit card number(s), or digital banking login via phone call, text message, or social media. Please do not share this information via any channel, even if the caller states they are from Financial Plus or the number on your caller ID shows a Financial Plus phone number. 

Scammers send fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information – The scammers use a variety of ever-changing stories to try to rope you in. Please remain alert and don't share your personal sensitive information.

  • A new spam text out in the community is a mobile alert stating "Your VISA Card is Locked".  Mobile users are asked to call a toll free number that alerts them their card is temporarily locked. The recording then prompts the mobile user to enter their 16 digit card number. 
    • Financial Plus Credit Union will never call, text or email you to request your personal sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, your credit/debit card number(s), or your digital banking username and password.
  • Financial Plus has been notified by members receiving text messages regarding an attempt to obtain digital and online banking information. While these fraudsters have not been successful in their attempts, we want to make members aware of these attempts so they can avoid becoming a victim.
    • Sample of fraudulent text message content: “Due to the merger of Financial Plus and Wanigas, online banking would not be available through regular portals. Click here to access your online banking.”

Please be aware of potential fraudsters acting as the Financial Plus Fraud Department making phone calls to get your credit or debit card number over the phone. If you receive a call asking for your credit or debit card number, hang up. Financial Plus will never ask you for this information over the phone.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a rise in phishing attempts (email scams) which appear to be from the IRS.  While the verbiage on the emails vary, the common request is for you to interact with a file (review, open, fill out, etc.).  These emails usually have a document or file attached.  Once opened, the file drops malware (viruses, trojans, etc.) on your computer which gives the scammers access to everything you do.

Please note, the IRS will NEVER contact you via email, text messages, or social media.  Scammers use emotions to get people to act.   Here is a statement taken directly from the IRS.GOV website:

Avoid email, phishing and malware schemes
Scammers send emails that trick businesses and taxpayers into thinking the messages are official communications from the IRS or others in the tax industry. As part of phishing schemes, scammers sometimes ask taxpayers about a wide-range of topics, such as refunds, filing status, confirming personal information, ordering transcripts and verifying personal identification numbers.

The IRS does not use email, text messages or social media to discuss tax debts or refunds with taxpayers.

If you receive emails, text messages, or social media messages claiming to be from the IRS, you are able to use one of these methods from the IRS.GOV website to report them:

How to report scams
Taxpayers can use these options to report phone, email and other impersonation scams:

  • Report impersonation scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. on the “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” webpage.
  • Report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant. Add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.
  • Report an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS or an IRS-related system like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

For additional information, please visit https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing



Grandparent scams typically work something like this:

  1. The victim gets a call from someone posing as his or her grandchild.
  2. This person explains, in a frantic-sounding voice, that he or she is in trouble. They claim that there’s been an accident, an arrest, or a robbery. To up the urgency, the caller might claim to be hospitalized or stuck in jail. To make the impersonation more convincing, he or she will throw in a few family particulars, gleaned from the actual grandchild’s social media activity.
  3. The impostor offers just enough detail about where and how the emergency happened to make it seem plausible and perhaps turns the phone over to another scammer who pretends to be a doctor, police officer, or lawyer and backs up the story.
  4. The “grandchild” implores the target to wire money immediately, adding an anxious plea: "Don't tell mom and dad!"

Warning Signs

  • The person claiming to be your grandchild asks you to send money immediately and provides details on how. For example, via gift card, prepaid card or wiring money to a particular Western Union office.
  • The call usually comes late at night
These scams target individuals seeking flexible or remote work opportunities. Victims are lured by seemingly legitimate job offers, often for roles like invoice processing, payroll management, or similar positions that require an active bank account. The fraudster transfers money into the victim’s account, claiming the funds are for paying vendors. The victim is then instructed to wire portions of those funds to the fraudster's designated accounts.

In another version, the scammer asks the victim to pay upfront fees for onboarding or training, promising reimbursement later. These fees are often sent via wire transfer, prepaid gift cards, or other non-recoverable payment methods.

Warning Signs
  • Job offers that require you to use your personal bank account for transactions.
  • Requests to wire money or send payments as part of the job duties or onboarding process.
  • A lack of verifiable company information, such as no website, physical address, or established reputation.
  • Promises of quick earnings with minimal effort.
How to Protect Yourself
  • Research the company thoroughly before accepting any job offers. Look for online reviews or scam reports.
  • Never share your bank account information or personal details unless you are certain of the employer's legitimacy.
  • Be cautious of jobs that ask for upfront payments or require you to handle money transfers.
  • Report suspicious job offers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local law enforcement agency.

Fraudsters use several methods to gain unauthorized access to victims' bank accounts. Once they have access, they can deposit fake checks, transfer funds, or take over the account entirely.

One common method is phishing scams, where fraudsters pose as representatives from a financial institution. They might call or email victims claiming there is suspicious activity on their account and ask them to reset their online banking with a "provided" password or share their username and password. The fraudsters claim this will lock the account and prevent fraud, but in reality, it gives them full access to the victim’s account.

Once access is obtained, the fraudster can deposit fake checks, withdraw money, or use the account for other fraudulent activities. While the funds may initially appear available, the checks eventually bounce because they are fraudulent. Before this happens, the fraudster typically instructs the victim to send a portion of the money to the fraudster or a third party. When the check is returned, the victim is left responsible for repaying the full amount and covering any related fees. Fraudsters rely on victims not realizing the checks are fake until it’s too late.

We will never ask for or provide passwords, PINs, or sensitive account information through phone calls, texts, emails, or social media.
Warning Signs
  • Calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from a financial institution and asking for personal account information.
  • Requests to reset online banking using a password provided by someone else.
  • Claims that immediate action is needed to prevent fraud.
  • Emails or messages with urgent requests to click a link or verify account details.
How to Protect Yourself
  • Never share personal information, usernames, or passwords with anyone claiming to represent your financial institution.
  • Verify unexpected requests by contacting your financial institution directly using a trusted phone number or email address.
  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links in emails or messages.
Our Voice ID technology allows you to call our Contact Center and verify your identity without having to answer out-of-the box questions. Using machine learning and AI, we measure over 100 vocal characteristics to create your unique AudioPrint, allowing us to safely and securely get your questions answered faster.