Member Security &
Fraud Prevention Tips
IMPORTANT: Unitus will never ask for sensitive information such as your password, PIN or 3-digit security code. If you receive a call, text, or email from someone claiming to represent Unitus requesting this information, please do not respond.
For Immediate Help
Common Scams to Be Aware Of
Social Media Scams
Online shopping scams often involve the use of social media platforms to set up fake, online stores. By using social media to advertise the fake website; fraudsters take the member’s payment, but your member will never see the goods.
Shipment Update Scams
Fraudsters send a fake email notifying you of a delivery failure or the request for updated shipping information. The email looks like it’s coming from the original sender, but it contains a link with malware.
Criminals are increasingly using people like Denise Newton to move their money, just as many have lost their jobs and are vulnerable. Read more from this New York Times article.
Debt relief service scams target consumers with significant credit card debt by falsely promising to negotiate with their creditors to settle or otherwise reduce consumers’ repayment obligations; to lure them into purchasing services with promises to remove negative credit report information; to increase their credit scores; to reduce credit card interest rates, or to eliminate/reduce student loan debt.
These operations often charge cash-strapped consumers a large up-front fee, but then fail to help them settle or lower their debts if they provide any service at all. Some debt relief scams even tout their services using automated robocalls to consumers on the Do-Not-Call List.
Common Schemes
Credit repair scams frequently target financially distressed consumers who are having credit problems which during these unprecedented times leads to significant opportunities for fraudsters. These operations lure consumers to purchase their services by falsely claiming that they will remove negative information from consumers’ credit reports even if that information is accurate.
- False promises made and charging upfront fees to consumers struggling with student loan debt. A recent FTC complaint alleges the defendants pretended to be affiliated with the Department of Education promising to enroll consumers in student loan forgiveness, consolidation, and other repayment programs to eliminate or reduce student loan debt. Instead of providing the services promised, the company often contacted the loan servicer to place the loans into temporary loan forbearance or deferment status without the consumers’ authorization.
- Telemarketing scammers promise to reduce credit card interest rates after being paid. Consumers are convinced the scammers are affiliated with their card issuer, or a credit card network, and can save up to thousands of dollars in interest.
Common Warning Signs
- A debt relief company asks for fees up front, before it settles any debts.
- The company guarantees it can eliminate debt or reduce it by a particular amount in a set period of time.
- The company advises to cut off communication with creditors.
The Oregon Department of Justice has issued a scam alert for people who are pretending to be contact tracers. These imposters send emails and text messages with links to fraudulent websites. Clicking on the link may download software onto a device, giving them access to an array of your personal and financial information.
If you receive an email or a text message you think might be from a scammer posing as a contact tracer, first, do not click on any links. Then, file a complaint online at www.oregonconsumer.gov or call 1-877-877-9392 and ask that a complaint form be mailed to you.
For more information on other COVID-19 scams, visit www.oregonconsumer.gov/COVID-19.
The specific link for this scam, with an intro to contact tracing can be viewed here.
Seniors are being targeted through a Facebook post informing them that they can get a special grant to help pay medical bills. The link within the post takes them to a bogus website claiming to be a government agency called the “U.S. Emergency Grants Federation” where they are asked to provide their Social Security Number under the guise of needing to verify their identity. In other versions, fraudsters claim individuals can get additional money, up to $150,000 in some cases. The victims are asked to pay a “processing fee” to receive a grant.
Scammers continue to take advantage of lonely hearts
Millions of people, including credit union members, look to online dating or social networking sites to meet someone. But instead of romance, many unknowingly find a scammer. Cyberspace scammers are eager to take advantage of lonely hearts by setting up fake accounts on social media or dating sites to establish fraudulent relationships and get them to send money. In fact, the median loss of romance / sweetheart scams as reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is $2,600 and for people over 70 was over $10,000.
Scammers continue to fake online dating profiles using photos or other people to lure their victims. People reported losing $143 million to romance and sweetheart scams according to the FTC. The scammers strike up a relationship with their targets to build their trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day. The scammers quickly profess their love and tug at the victim’s emotions with fake stories and their need for money.
By using popular social media sites – like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Hangouts – scammers make the connection quickly and con their victims into wiring money or sending gift cards from vendors like Amazon.
Another variation is where victims are duped into providing online banking login credentials. The scammer then logs into the account and uses the account-to account/external transfer feature to initiate ACH debits against accounts at other institutions pulling funds into the victim’s account for deposit, or deposit fraudulent checks via mobile remote deposit capture. The victim is instructed to send the funds to the scammer by Western Union or MoneyGram. The ACH debits are subsequently returned to the credit union as unauthorized up to 60 days later, and checks are returned unpaid.
- A few red flags of these romance/sweetheart scams:
- String you along but never want to meet in person
- Scammers often say they’re living/traveling outside of the United States
- Hint they’re having money trouble and ask for money, personal info, or account number
- Often need money for emergencies, hospital bills, or travel.
- Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person – never wire money, put money on a gift or re-loadable card, or send cash to an online love interest.
It’s tax season and scammers are already at it. Please beware of the following:
- A scare campaign using robocalls claiming that law enforcement is going to suspend or cancel the call recipient’s Social Security number (SSN) in response to taxes owed. This scam often tricks people into calling these numbers back, even though according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a person’s Social Security number will never get suspended. Remember, the IRS only contacts taxpayers through snail mail or in-person.
- Another tax scam involves emails and impersonators claiming to be from the IRS either reminding you to file your taxes or offering you information about your refund. These emails involve spoofed websites to collect any information you input thereby facilitating identity theft. They can also infect your computer with malware, allowing fraudsters to steal more data.
- Since many know that the IRS doesn’t ask for money over phone or email, scammers are sending out letters. This letter claims to be from the Bureau of Tax Enforcement and may mention the IRS, demanding immediate payment. While these letters look legitimate, the Bureau of Tax Enforcement does not exist.
- Scammers are posing as tax professionals, however, they are really ghost tax preparers that will take money to prepare your taxes but won’t sign the return, making it look like you did the work yourself. Ghost preparers often lie on the return to make you qualify for credits you haven’t earned or apply changes that will get you in trouble. Since they don’t sign, you’ll be responsible for any errors. At best, you’ll have to repay the money owed. At worst, you could be looking at an audit.
Fraudsters are always on the hunt for ways to scam consumers out of their hard-earned money, that includes gift cards too either bought online or in stores! Here are a few of the most common types of gift card scams:
Fake Online Listings Scam
You find an item advertised online such as concert or event tickets, a vehicle, pet, or rental property and are instructed to make a payment using a branded gift cards sold online, and provide your claim codes via email or phone. The item is often priced far below market value and the seller may claim they need to sell the item quickly because of a life event that creates a sense of urgency, such as moving, divorce, death of a loved one, or military deployment. The scammer also may claim that following a payment for the goods, you will receive the item and may even end a fake receipt. Always be suspicious of anyone who contacts you and demands money quickly; no legitimate seller would require you to pay for the item in gift cards.
Boss Scams
You receive an unexpected/unsolicited email or text message from your boss or a leader in an organization you are involved in requesting that you purchase branded gift cards and send the cards or the claim codes to that person. Typically, the message will say that the gift cards will be used for some purpose within the company (e.g., employee incentives, client appreciation, charitable donations). The scammer may claim they are out of town, in a conference call, or otherwise engaged and that is why they need you to make the purchase for them.
We suggest you immediately try to contact your boss or the leaders of your organization directly using a phone number/email that you know is theirs. Always be suspicious of anyone who contacts you and demands money quickly.
Unsolicited phone call from scammers claiming to be from Unitus
Scammers are using fake caller ID information to trick you into thinking they’re someone who can be trusted. The practice is called “caller ID spoofing,” and scammers can fake anyone’s phone number. You may receive an unsolicited call from someone stating they are a member of Unitus’ Member Service Department. They may say your account is frozen and you need to purchase a Unitus or branded gift card(s) and provide the claim codes over the phone in order to remove the freeze on your account. Other things they might ask for are your Unitus uOnline password, full credit card ID or credit union account number.
Unitus will never call or ask for sensitive information such as your account number, password, card number, PIN or 3-digit security code. If you receive a call, text, or email from someone claiming to represent Unitus requesting this information, please do not respond.
Family emergency scams
You receive an unexpected phone call or unsolicited email from an individual claiming to be a lawyer, law enforcement agent, hospital employee, or other representative for a family member in distress who needs your immediate financial help. Some callers may even try to impersonate your family member or friend. You may be instructed to purchase Unitus gift cards or another branded gift card to resolve the situation.
We suggest immediately contacting your family member directly using a phone number that you know is theirs, or contact another relative who can assist you. Always be suspicious of anyone who contacts you and demands money quickly.
Unpaid debt and tax scams
You receive an unexpected phone call or unsolicited email to make a payment for taxes, fines, bail money, utility bills, or other unexpected fees. The scammer may claim you owe a past due amount as a result of miscalculation of your taxes; or the scammer may claim that you are owed a tax refund, prize, or rebate but must first make a payment for administrative fees with a gift card.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, you should never give out personal information. Report the call to the IRS using their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page or by calling the IRS at 1-800-366-4484.
Job offer scams
You receive an unexpected phone call suggesting you apply for a Unitus job where you can work from home. You may be told that you can work your own hours, and make thousands of dollars a month. Once the scammer informs you that you’ve received a job offer, they may request that you pay a start-up fee or purchase a starter kit with a Unitus gift card.
We recommend that you do not respond to employment opportunities from cold-callers, over email, or on websites claiming to be affiliated with Unitus. Any Unitus job opportunities will be posted on the Unitus Careers page, and will not require you to purchase equipment or pay any initiation fees.
How to Report Fraud/Scams
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices. To learn more about common gift card scams, visit FTC.gov/giftcards. To file a complaint, visit https://ftccomplaintassistant.gov, call 1-877-FTC-HELP, or write to: Federal Trade Commission, CRC-240, Washington, D.C. 20580
If your complaint is against a company in a country other than the United States, or you want to find information on where to report in locations outside the United States, visit http://www.econsumer.gov.
If you believe you have fallen victim to or been exposed to a scam, contact us. For lost or stolen Unitus credit or debit cards, immediately call 503-423-8315 or 1-800-422-3132 and choose option # 2.
If you suspect other fraud with your Unitus accounts or relationship, call 503-227-5571 or 1-800-452-0900.
You may also visit our Contact Us page and submit an inquiry form, just select ‘Suspicious activity on my account’ from the drop-down. If you are contacting us via personal email, please have you email’s subject line read: ‘Suspicious activity on my account’. This will help our staff assist you.
Learn about common ways your ID can be stolen and how you can protect yourself
Start by watching this video about Identity Theft. It only takes a few minutes and includes the following helpful information:
- How fraudsters obtain your private information
- How to protect your phone, computer, and files
- How to keep yourself secure online and offline
- Checking your credit report is easy and free!

Safety First: Fraud Prevention Checklist
While nearly all merchants and organizations have anti-fraud security measures in place, recent high-exposure breach events at major companies have shown that it’s difficult to completely prevent fraud for even the most sophisticated defense systems.
That said, as a savvy individual, there are things you can do to both reduce your risk of experiencing fraud and minimize any potential fraud loss.
Follow this fraud prevention checklist of things you can do today to remain safe on an everyday basis:
- Log into uOnline and update the contact information connected to your Unitus account. Make sure your phone, email, and street address are all up to date so we can contact you quickly in case of any suspicious activity from fraudsters. Early detection is the most effective way to limit or eliminate loss. If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, learn more about what rights you have.
- Enroll in Fraud Text Alerts. Once you do, we can notify you instantly via SMS text of any suspicious activity on your account. Again, early detection is crucial.
- Download the Unitus Card Guard mobile app. The app allows you to turn off or turn on your card instantly to ensure only you can access your card. It lets you set spending alerts and receive instant notifications of account activity to make sure you are in complete control of your card.
If your Unitus card is ever at risk of being compromised due to a security breach at a merchant, such as Target or Home Depot, rest assured we will act swiftly.
We will contact you to inform you of the merchant breach. We will then walk you through the process of canceling your card and issuing you a new one to protect your data and your finances.
When you feel secure and confident, you’re more able to serve your family, your community, and yourself. We’re here to help.
Unitus employs state of the art systems to protect your financial information. Here are a few of the fraud prevention tools working to keep you safe.
Falcon Fraud Protection
Every Unitus credit or debit card comes with Falcon Fraud protection, notifying us immediately of suspicious activity to your account.
Fraud Text Alerts
Sign up for Fraud Text Alerts! It’s easy, fast, and helps you stay in control in case of fraud.
Cybersecurity
Firewalls, encrypted transmissions, and constantly improving anti-virus technology all work together to keep your account information safe.
Other Ways to Protect Yourself
Here are some ways you can keep your credit and debit cards secure.
- Download the Unitus Card Guard mobile app.
- Sign up for Unitus fraud text alerts.
- Sign your new credit or debit card immediately after receiving it.
- Never carry your PIN and card together. If you can memorize your PIN, shred any documents containing the number. If you prefer to have a reference copy, store it in a different place from your card.
- Shred or cut up your old cards as soon as they expire or are no longer active.
- Shred any receipts of purchases made using your card.
- If you suspect your card is lost or stolen, report it to Unitus immediately.
For fraudsters, your computer can be a gateway to personal information. Stay secure with these steps.
- Install anti-virus and anti-spyware on your computer. There are many products available to deter criminals from accessing your personal information through your computer.
- Add a firewall to your computer to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your system.
- Install all software fixes (also called “service packs”) available for your computer programs as soon as possible. These often fix newly discovered security weaknesses.
- Use a current web browser. The newer the version, the more likely it is to keep you safe online.
- Activate a pop-up blocking tool. Pop-ups are still a favorite of fraudsters, hiding malicious software behind enticing offers like promises of cash or other prizes.
Minimize your mobile risk with these steps:
- Keep your device software up to date for the latest security protection.
- Use a PIN or password to unlock your device. Make it different from your other passwords.
- Use a biometric login if your device has a fingerprint sensor.
- Only download apps from reputable sources such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Be suspicious of email and social media requests from strangers. Social media sites are a favorite target for fraudsters.
- Always look for “https” in the URL when browsing or shopping online. This indicates an added level of security for that site.
- Don’t open text messages if you’re uncertain of the source. The message may contain malicious software that could compromise your device. When in doubt, delete the text.
- Common types of fraud to be on the lookout for.
- Keep personal or account information tucked away in a single place where only you and trusted individuals know where to find it.
- Provide information only to trusted sources. Never give information to individuals with whom you did not initiate the contact, or have not confirmed their business or identity.
- Reduce the amount of mail sent to you. Envelopes can be stolen from your mailbox or trash. Choose electronic statement options (Unitus offers this service through uOnline or over the phone at our contact center).
- Opt-out of pre-approved credit offers by calling 1-888-567-8688 or visiting optoutprescreen.com.
- Frequently monitor your account statements and history online for unauthorized transactions.
- Check your credit report for discrepancies on a regular basis. You can obtain a free credit report from each reporting agency once a year by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
Staying Safe In The Cloud
The cloud is becoming more and more ubiquitous in our everyday lives – you might have your calendar in the cloud, plenty of personal information in the cloud, nearly your whole life in the cloud!
Watch this 4-minute video to find out how to keep yourself safe when using the cloud.