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How to Protect Yourself from Fraud This Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a timely reminder that while digital banking makes managing your money easier than ever, cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics to target sensitive personal and financial data. Fortunately, protecting your accounts and personal information doesn't require technical expertise—just a few reliable habits and the right partnership.

Keep reading to learn how you can protect your personal information and stay safe from fraud.

4 Smart Strategies to Stay Safe from Digital Scams

1. Watch Out for the AI Voice Clones

One of the fastest-growing threats today is AI voice cloning and deepfake phone scams. Using just a brief sample of someone's voice from social media or a voicemail, scammers can use artificial intelligence to mimic a child, grandchild, or family member in distress, pleading for emergency funds via wire, gift card, or peer-to-peer payment.
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be someone you know, but they are unexpectedly asking for money, hang up. Call or text the person back directly using a known, trusted number. You may also want to establish a family safe word or security question that AI cannot guess.

2. Double-Check Suspicious Communications

Another common scam involves sending the target urgent text messages or emails claiming that your credit union or utility company has locked your account. Another variation of this scam will claim that your delivery service has stopped your package. The impostor will demand login credentials, 2FA (two-factor authentication) codes, or other personal data to restore your account.
Remember that legitimate institutions like SharePoint Credit Union will never ask for your full password, PIN, or 2FA codes over text, email, or phone. When in doubt, visit the official website of the organization that the message claims to be from. Contact them directly using their listed phone number to verify the situation.

3. Create Unique Account Credentials

Credential stuffing is a form of cybercrime where automated bots test leaked email/password combinations across multiple sites. Their hope is that your leaked or stolen login info for one account will be the same for your other accounts.

This is why it’s important to have a different password for each of your accounts. You can use a dedicated password manager, such as Google Password Manager, to generate unique, complex passwords for every account. We also recommend turning on two-factor or multi-factor authentication everywhere it’s available, especially for email and financial logins.

4. Limit Your Online Information

Spear phishing is a type of scam that targets a specific individual or group. As with other types of phishing scams, it involves sending a fraudulent message claiming to be from a trusted person or organization. The difference is that spear phishers will research their target using publicly available information, such as is shared on social media. Sometimes they’ll even break into accounts to learn as much as they can about their target. They then use this data to craft a fraudulent message tailored to you, using accurate information to convince you of the message’s legitimacy.

To protect yourself from spear phishing, clean up your online information. Audit app permissions on your phone, delete unused accounts or apps that hold personal data, and tighten privacy settings on social media accounts so public-facing details are limited.

The SharePoint CU Advantage: Built-In Security Tools

You don't have to navigate cybersecurity alone. SharePoint Credit Union equips members with proactive layers of defense:

• IdentityIQ® Services: Monitor the dark web for compromised credentials, receive real-time fraud alerts, and access valuable identity theft protection resources.
• Real-Time Transaction Alerts: Set up instant push notifications or text alerts in the SharePoint Credit Union mobile app so you spot unauthorized card activity the second it happens.
• Card Controls: Freeze or unfreeze your debit/credit card with a single tap in the SharePoint CU Cards App if you misplace it.

Take Action Today

Digital fraud may be frightening, but if you stay calm, think things through, and follow these strategies, you can protect yourself. If you have questions about how to avoid scams or stay safe during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, or if you suspect unauthorized access to your SharePoint CU accounts, contact our team immediately or visit your local branch.