As students return to school, there are a variety of back-to-school related scams to be on the lookout for.

It’s easy to install an app on your phone without even thinking twice about it, but there are a few security factors you should consider before downloading any app.

Are you receiving funds along with instructions on how to use the funds or where to transfer them next? If so, you may be a money mule.

If you are still receiving your bank statements in the mail, it might be time to start thinking about going paperless. Not only will this lessen the clutter in your mailbox, but electronic statements come with a variety of other benefits.

We would all love to win a large cash prize; unfortunately, scammers can take advantage of that excitement. Scammers will often make contact claiming you have won a grand prize, but say to get the prize you need to pay a processing fee.

When searching for a loan online you may see the common phrases above. Those all seem very appealing when in need of financial assistance, and that is exactly why the scammers market them.

Please be aware that the pictured postcard is not from Members First Credit Union. We take pride in keeping your information private and we would not send anything with an account number via postcard. 

We also know that fraudsters are clever and may try to steal your information in a variety of ways. Understanding common scams is an important tool in protecting yourself from indentity theft. Below we explain 5 of the most common scams that fraudsters typically use and ways you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.