Fraud: Imposter Scams
Members - Scammers are increasingly impersonating Sierra Central in fraudulent text messages and phone calls. We will not contact you for card information or online banking information. We will not call you to register your online banking or walk you through setting up your online banking. We will never ask you for your Social Security #, one-time passcode, account password, code word, or any card or account details via phone, email, or text message. If you receive a request, please DO NOT respond.
TEXT FRAUD ALERT
Members, if you receive a text message asking you to click a link to login to your online banking account, DO NOT click the link and DO NOT enter your login credentials!
Fraudsters are sending these text messages that appear to be from Sierra Central. The wording varies and some mention a Zelle transaction, or credit card transactions or account transactions asking you to verify them.
There is a link within the text message that takes you to a SCAM website that resembles Sierra Central legitimate website. From there they ask you to enter your online banking credentials.
DO NOT click on any links received within a text message or email message, especially if they request entering of any personal information, like login credentials.
If you receive one of these messages, please contact us directly, using a verified source such as our phone number 800-222-7228. Or enter our website address sierracentral.com directly into the search bar of your device.
CALL SPOOFING FRAUD ALERT
If you receive a suspicious phone call from fraudsters claiming to be from Sierra Central, hang up immediately. Contact us directly, using a verified and legitimate source such as our phone number 800-222-7228. You can check our phone number on our website, at sierracentral.com.
Call Spoofing, also know as caller ID spoofing, is a type of phone fraud that involves changing the number or name that appears on a caller's ID to disguise their identity. Scammers often use spoofing to trick people into answering calls from numbers that appear to be local or form a business or government agency. Once the call is answered, the scammer may use a script to steal money or personal information.
If you are being asked to provide Online Banking Login information (Username, Password, One-Time Passcode), by an individual claiming to be from the Sierra Central Fraud Department, IT IS A SCAM. Do not provide this information or click on any links this fraudulent individual may send you.
Please know that Sierra Central will never ask you for this information. Immediately hangup the phone or get out of the app/website page and visit your local branch or call us directly by visiting our website where you can find our 800 number.
EMAIL FRAUD ALERT
If you recieve an email that appears to be from our fraud department. Do not call the number provided in the fraudulent email. If you should speak to one of the scammers DO NOT download apps onto your phone at their direction!
Remember, Sierra Central would not ask you to download a strange app onto your phone or ask you for: one-time passcode, account password, code word, or any card or account details via phone, email, or text message. DO NOT CLICK on any attachment links within emails or text messages.
Call us at our trusted phone number if you feel you have been scammed. Our 800 number is at the bottom of our website page and online banking login page.
Below is an example of a fraudulent email being sent out.
Dear <<SCAMMERS PUT YOUR NAME HERE>>,
This email is from the Sierra Central Credit Union Bank fraud Department. We are writing to inform you that our system has detected some unusual transaction activity on your Checking account.
Transaction Details:
Date: Jan 30,2025.
Time: 09:33:10 PST
Description: CoinBase Bitcoin
Amount: $5,500.00 USD
Location: China [ IP address: 128.56.20.265 ]
Please review the above details carefully to verify whether these transactions were authorized by you. If you did not initiate these transactions or if you suspect fraudulent activity on your account, we strongly advise you to take immediate action and get in touch with our Fraud Department: +1 864 400 9120 (THIS IS NOT OUR 800 NUMBER!!)
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Howard Barrett.
Financial Manager
Sierra Central Credit Union
1351Harter Pkwy, Yuba City, CA, 95993.
LAW ENFORCEMENT FRAUD ALERT
Consumers are being targeted by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement, government agencies, or representatives from financial institutions' Fraud Departments.
These scammers convince individuals to withdraw large sums of cash from their bank accounts, claiming reasons such as:
- The bank/credit union is scamming them
- Their accounts are being manipulated
- There are unauthorized withdrawals
- They are victims of identity theft
The scammer will claim these reasons, and tell you that to keep your money safe, you need to hand it over to these individuals, who claim they will put it in a secure place/account for safekeeping.
Scammers advise victims to lie to their bank or credit union about the reasons for the withdrawals, suggesting excuses like purchasing a car, remodeling their home, or paying for tree removal. The list of fabricated stories is extensive.
Victims are instructed to package their cash and leave it outside their homes for these so-called “Agents” to pick up. After the pickup, the money is gone for good.
Additionally, fraudsters may persuade individuals to hand over their bank Debit card, using similar deceptive tactics. They might claim that the bank is involved in a scam or that unauthorized transactions are happening on the account. Once they have the Debit card, the fraudsters quickly drain the victim's bank account through unauthorized purchases.
These fraudsters are highly convincing in their narratives. Therefore, Sierra Central Members, please exercise caution and remember:
- We will NEVER ask you to withdraw money and then turn the cash back over to us.
- We will NEVER come to your home to collect cash or debit cards
- We will NEVER ask for your Online Banking Username or Password
- Government agencies will NEVER request this of you either
Your personal and financial safety is of the utmost importance to us. If you receive a call from anyone requesting your personal information or trying to get you to withdraw cash for them, hang up immediately and contact your credit union or bank directly. Always look up our phone number yourself; never use a number provided by the caller. Be cautious with caller ID; scammers can easily spoof phone numbers, so it may look like Sierra Central is calling you.
Members, please be vigilant and do not fall victim to fraudsters! Help us keep your money safe by following these guidelines:
- Never hand over cash or your Debit card
- Do not provide Account Numbers, Passwords, Passcodes or Usernames
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Look up our official number and call us to report what happened. We will do everything we can to secure your accounts and protect your funds.
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