Fraud Alerts

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.”

IRS Email Scams

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