SIERRA CENTRAL - ALERT CENTER

FRAUD ALERT

Members, please be aware!  Sierra Central Members are receiving phone calls from fraudsters claiming to be from Sierra Central. If you receive a suspicious phone call, that seems to be bank spoofing, hang up immediately. If you receive a suspicious text, don't respond. Contact us directly using a verified, legitimate source such as our phone number 800-222-7228, check our website at sierracentral.com.

5 STEPS TO AVOID BANK IMPOSTER SCAMS

A scammer contacts you pretending to be someone from Sierra Central. The call may even look like it's coming from us because the scammer uses spoofing technology to disguise the number on your caller ID so it appears legitimate. The scammer may alert you to “suspicious activity” on your account and tell you that to correct it you’ll need to provide personal information, send a payment, or reverse a payment. These are bank spoofing scams. The goal is to steal your money or private account access information like your PIN, password, or one-time access codes.

Here are the key steps to spot and avoid this type of bank fraud.

Step 1: Don’t rely on caller ID.

Watch out for scammers who may be able to spoof a phone number so your caller ID reads “Sierra Central.”

Step 2: Don’t share private account information.  

Remember that Sierra Central employees will NEVER ask for your PIN, password, or one-time access codes. This information should always be private and never shared.

Step 3: Ignore requests to send a payment to solve a problem.

Know that Sierra Central employees will NEVER ask you to send money to anyone – including yourself – to "reverse a transfer," "receive a refund," or anything similar. Remember, if a correction is needed, the bank has your account information.

Step 4: Ignore transaction requests you didn’t initiate.

If you receive a one-time access code to authorize a transaction you didn't initiate, don't use the code or share it with anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank. One-time access codes should never be shared.

Step 5: When in doubt, hang up and contact us directly.

If you receive a suspicious phone call that seems like bank spoofing, hang up immediately. If you receive a suspicious text, don’t respond. Contact Sierra Central Credit Union directly using a verified, legitimate source such our phone number 800-222-7228, visit our website at sierracentral.com.

How to report bank spoofing    

If you sent a payment or shared private account information related to a bank spoofing call, contact us at 800-222-7228 right away.

If you received a suspicious call but did not respond, send a payment, or share private account information, email us at compliance@sccu4u.com.

If possible, please include these details:

- Call date, time, and your time zone

- Number or identification that appeared on caller ID

- Phone number the Sierra Central impersonator called to reach you

- Other details about the interaction

- Attach a screenshot of your mobile phone’s call history, if available