Safety & Security

Protect Yourself Against Fraud

At Bellwether, we are committed to safeguarding your financial well-being. As trusted partners in your financial journey, it's essential to stay informed about prevalent scams and adopt measures to protect yourselves. 

Understanding Common Scams

• Impersonation Scams: Fraudsters pose as trusted individuals or organizations, such as family members, government agencies, or utility companies, to deceive you into providing personal information or money.
• Online Shopping Scams: Scammers create fake websites or apps mimicking legitimate retailers, collecting your payment details without delivering the promised products.
• Investment Fraud: These schemes promise high returns with little to no risk, often resembling Ponzi or pyramid schemes, aiming to exploit your trust for financial gain.
• Tech Support Scams: Scammers impersonate tech support representatives, claiming your computer has issues, and request remote access to steal personal information.
• Government Impersonation Scams: Fraudsters pose as government officials, threatening arrest or legal action unless immediate payment is made, often using fear tactics to manipulate victims. 

General Safety Tips

• Be Skeptical: Always question unsolicited communications, especially those requesting personal information or money.
• Verify Identities: Contact organizations or individuals directly using known contact information to confirm legitimacy before sharing sensitive details.
• Secure Personal Information: Keep personal and financial information confidential, and be cautious about what you share, even on social media platforms. 
• Use Strong Passwords: Employ complex passwords and change them regularly to enhance account security. 
• Monitor Financial Accounts: Regularly review bank statements and credit reports for unauthorized transactions or changes. 
• Educate and Discuss: Engage in conversations with trusted family members or friends about potential scams and share any suspicious experiences.

If you suspect fraudulent activity or need assistance, please contact us immediately at 1.866.996.9828. Together, we can work towards a secure financial future.

Calls Targeting Members

Bellwether Community Credit Union is aware of a scam where fraudsters are calling members (with a local number displaying in caller ID) claiming they are from Bellwether concerning fraudulent charges to their debit card. The fraudsters are requesting a member to provide their debit card number, expiration date, and PIN, as well as their Online Banking username and password.

Regardless of where calls, emails or texts originate from, follow the steps below to protect yourself from potential scams.

• Never provide your Online Banking logon information to anyone. Once you provide this access, you may be liable for losses! Even a joint owner on your accounts should have their own logon.
• Never provide private information to any caller (your debit/credit card number, PINs, social security number, etc.) unless YOU initiated the call to a company well known to you.
• Never send money based on a phone, email or text request unless you can positively confirm this is someone well known to you in person.
• Never use *72 before dialing a phone number as this is a method of forwarding your actual phone number to the fraudster’s phone.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Member Contact Center at 1-866-996-9828.