Protect yourself and your accounts.
It is important to be on the lookout for fraudulent activity and to know how to safeguard yourself against it.
At Members First, we monitor this kind of activity on a daily – and even hourly – basis. Identity theft is one of the most prevalent crime in the U.S. You will find resources and advice below to help protect you.
How Members First Protects You and Your Accounts
How to Protect Yourself and Your Accounts
How Members First Protects You
Secure Access
Members First members can access accounts online with a Username and Password. When a new device is detected at sign-in, a secure access code will be sent to the phone number on file for an added layer of security.
Unusual Access Alerts
When unusual access to your account online is detected, the fraud department is alerted for review. New devices, non-local logins and excessive failed login attempts can trigger a review to further protect your account.
Card Management
With the MyCardRules app, you can manage your Members First debit or credit card from anywhere. Set location controls for added security, create purchase limits and alerts for budgeting, and the ability to lock your card when lost or stolen.
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Card Fraud Alerts
Suspicious card usage is monitored by Members First and will trigger an alert of suspected fraud to the member. These alerts come via text, email, and phone call. If suspected fraud is identified on a card, the card will be temporarily blocked until we receive confirmation from the member.
- Legitimate text alerts will always contain the financial institution name, last 4-digits of the card number, & a recent transaction.
- If calling a number provided in a text alert, the representative will not ask for a full card number or a verification code sent via text/email.
- If in doubt, call the credit union directly at 855.835.6328.
How You Can Prevent Fraud
Password Security
Create a Strong Password
Create strong passwords for a solid defense against hackers.
- An ideal password should be 12 or more characters and use a combination of special characters, numbers, and capital and lowercase letters.
- And do not use information easily available on social media—like a pet’s name or your birthday—as part of your password.
- Another option is to use a third-party password manager to create a strong password — and remember it.
Secure Your Email
It's critical to protect your email account with a strong password. That’s because password reset links often go to your email inbox. If a hacker takes over your email account, they can get password reset links for your other accounts.
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Keep Personal Information Private
Financial texting, phone, and email scams are on the rise. Members First will never contact you to ask for your account numbers, card number, zip code, passwords, pin numbers, passcodes, or usernames. If anyone contacts you unexpectedly and requests this information, do not provide it.
- Never respond to emails or text messages with personal banking or credit card information.
- Never provide debit or credit card numbers or PIN in response to unsolicited email.
- Never use email to send your confidential information, since internet email is not secure.
- Be cautious about giving confidential information over the phone, or through text message, to callers you don’t know.
- Never share your online banking login credentials.
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Monitor Your Account
- Check your monthly statements to verify all transactions and notify your financial institution of any suspicious transactions.
- Shred any pre-approved credit offers that you do not want.
- Report lost or stolen checks and credit cards immediately.
Monitor Your Credit
Your credit report is an important part of your financial life. It can determine whether you can get credit, how good or bad the terms for getting credit are, and how much it costs you to borrow money. Getting your credit report can help protect your credit history from errors and help you spot signs of identity theft.
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Popular Fraud Scams
Every day, scammers develop new schemes intended to rob you of your personal information, money, or both. Knowing is half the battle, so take a moment to familiarize yourself with some of the most common scams, and the next time you’re a target, you just might save yourself some hassle.
Cryptocurrency is becoming more accessible to everyday consumers. One of the most visible signs of this shift is the rise of Bitcoin ATMs—machines that allow people to buy or sell Bitcoin using cash. While they may seem like a fast and easy way to get involved with crypto, Bitcoin ATMs have also become a favorite tool for scammers.
What is a Bitcoin ATM?
Bitcoin ATMs (also called BTMs) are machines that allow people to buy or sell Bitcoin (and sometimes other cryptocurrencies) using cash or a debit card, much like how a regular ATM lets you withdraw or deposit money into a bank account.
But there are important differences from traditional ATMs:
- They’re not connected to your credit union or other financial institution account.
- They often charge very high fees.
- There is zero fraud protection. Once the crypto is sent, it's nearly impossible to recover.
- Bitcoin ATMs operate with minimal regulation, which is why scammers often exploit them.
How Bitcoin ATM Scams work
Scammers pose as Apple, Google, Amazon, your financial institution, or even law enforcement, claiming your accounts are compromised. They pressure you into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a Bitcoin ATM—once you do, the money is gone for good.
How to Spot & Avoid a Bitcoin ATM Scam
Stay one step ahead with these tips:
- No legitimate company or agency will ever ask you to send money via Bitcoin ATM.
- Beware of urgency—scammers will pressure you to act without thinking.
- Don’t trust caller ID—phone numbers can be spoofed.
- Verify any claims by calling the company directly.
- Never download unknown software or give remote access to your devices.
- Speak with your credit union or financial institution before making unusual or large withdrawals.
- Report any suspicious requests or calls to authorities immediately.
As Bitcoin and crypto technology evolve, so do the tactics scammers use. Always verify unexpected financial requests and never send money through a Bitcoin ATM unless you're 100% certain of the recipient.
Phone scammers often disguise their identity by using illegal spoofing techniques to send false information to your caller ID display. To trick you into answering, spoofers may use local area codes and numbers that look familiar. Or they may impersonate a company you do business with, such as a local utility, or even a government agency.
Here are some good ways to avoid being spoofed:
- Don't answer calls from unknown numbers.
- If you answer and it’s not who you expected, don’t hang on, hang up.
- If a caller asks you to hit a button to stop getting calls, just hang up.
- Never assume an unexpected call is legitimate. Hang up and call back using a number you can verify on a bill, a statement, or an official website.
- Be suspicious. Con artists can be very convincing: They may ask innocuous questions, or sound threatening, or sometimes seem too good to be true.
- Don’t give out personal information – account numbers, Social Security numbers or passwords – or answer security questions.
- Use extreme caution if you are being pressured for immediate payment.
- Ask your phone company about call blocking tools for landlines or apps for mobile devices.
- Report spoofing scams to law enforcement, the FCC and the FTC.
Learn more at fcc.gov/spoofing.
A romance scam occurs when a scammer creates a fake profile on a dating website to form a connection with malicious intent. After months of communication and established trust, the scammer then requests money for an emergency. Before sending money or any personal information to someone you have met online, discuss this with your friends and family and do you research on the person you have been communicating with.
A romance scam survivor has fought back by educating others with her story.
Watch her story
Crypto scams are long-term investment scams where a victim is lured into depositing increasingly large amounts of cash into Crypto Currency ATMs with false promises of big returns.
How do Crypto Investment Scams Work?
Scammers use the lure of crypto investments and the promise of an enticing and wealthy lifestyle to steal billions from investors.
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How Crypto ATM Scammers Steal Millions
Scammers are banking on your confusion about virtual currency to get you to deposit your money into cryptocurrency ATMs. Once your cash is imported into their crypto wallet, it is almost impossible to get it back.
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An inheritance scam often involves an imposter with claims of unclaimed fortunes from a recently deceased distant relative.
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Scammers will try multiple methods to have someone purchase gift cards. This can come through a mailed request, phone call for a new job offer, or a lottery scam with upfront fees. Any time someone asks you to purchase a gift card and to send the numbers or a picture for verification, it is a scam. They will then steal the card balance leaving you out the money.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a family member trapped in jail, call another family member to verify. It is likely someone impersonating them to request bail money.
If someone calls impersonating an IRS agent for unpaid taxes, hang up. You would receive plenty of mailed notice prior to the IRS ever making a phone call in attempt to collect on unpaid taxes. They will not threaten immediate arrest over the phone.
Did you win the lottery or a large prize but never participated in the drawing? It is likely a scam. Lottery scams send the promise of a large prize in exchange for the upfront payment of fees and taxes. Do your research and ask yourself if it’s too good to be true.
A tech support scam occurs when your computer or phone receives a virus and you click something or call for support. By contacting a scammer impersonating technical support, they will then get access to your device to obtain private information. If you suspect someone has taken control of your device, take it to a reputable support business.
A job scam is a fraudulent offer for employment that often includes a counterfeit check as a sign-on bonus or a request for upfront fees to be paid for equipment. If the job seems too good to be true, it likely is. Do more research to find the companies direct website and contact them for verification.
How to Report a Scam
According to the CFPB, If you suspect a scam, there are a few important steps you should take right away.
- Contact your local police or sheriff’s office to report the scam.
- Contact your state attorney general. Visit the National Association of Attorneys General website for the contact information of each state attorney general.
- If the victim is an older person or a person with a disability, contact your local adult protective services agency. You can find your state or local agency that receives and investigates reports of suspected elder financial exploitation by using the online Eldercare Locator or calling (800) 677-1116.
- If you or someone you care about is the victim of a fraud, scam or financial exploitation, you can report fraud with the Federal Trade Commission.
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