Protecting Yourself This Scam Season
Fall doesn't just bring cooler weather, it can also bring a spike in scams. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but scammers don't wait for a calendar reminder. As package deliveries pick up, holiday shopping kicks off, and "urgent" emails and texts flood your inbox, fraudsters get busier too.
The good news: most scams share a few telltale signs, and a little awareness goes a long way toward keeping your money — and your identity — safe.
Know the Red Flags
Scams come in many disguises, but they tend to lean on the same tricks:
- Urgency and pressure. "Act now or your account will be suspended." Legitimate businesses rarely demand instant action.
- Requests for gift cards or wire transfers. No real government agency, utility company, or financial institution will ever ask you to pay a bill with gift cards.
- Unexpected links or attachments. A surprise "shipping problem" text or "unpaid invoice" email is a classic phishing setup. Don't click. Go directly to the company's official site or app instead.
- Too-good-to-be-true offers. Unexpected prize winnings, secret shopper jobs, or unbelievable deals are almost always a setup.
- Impersonation. Scammers are skilled at spoofing caller ID and email addresses to look like your bank, the IRS, or even a family member in distress.
Common Fall & Holiday Scams to Watch For
- Fake package delivery notifications: Texts or emails claiming a delivery issue, prompting you to "confirm" personal or payment info.
- "Grandparent" or emergency scams: Beware a panicked call claiming a loved one needs money right away.
- Fake charity requests: Especially timed around year-end giving season.
- Employment scams: Beware fake job postings or "mystery shopper" offers that ask for banking details upfront.
How CWCU Helps You Stay Protected
You don't have to navigate this alone. Central Willamette Credit Union gives you tools to stay a step ahead:
- Instant card controls: Lock your debit card in the CW Mobile Banking App the moment something feels off.
- Custom account alerts: Get real-time notifications for transactions so you spot anything unusual immediately.
- A team that's always reachable: If something looks suspicious, call us before you click, pay, or send money. We'd rather help you double-check than see you become a statistic.
When in Doubt, Pause and Verify
If a message, call, or offer feels off, it probably is. Hang up, close the email, and contact the organization directly using a number or website you know is legitimate, never one provided in the suspicious message itself.
Questions about a transaction or worried something might be a scam? Call us at 541-928-4536. We're always happy to help you sort it out.