Identity & Privacy Protection

 

You work hard to protect your good name and credit. Unfortunately identity theft is becoming more and more common which means you need to be extra careful with your information. If you think you may have fallen for a scam, take steps quickly.

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is when someone uses your name, social or other identifying information without your permission. With a scam, the individuals are attempting to gain your personal information from you to later commit identity theft. There are many different ways in which they attempt this.

Is The Credit Union Calling Or Is It A Scammer?

You might receive a call or text claiming to be from Castparts Credit Union. Your caller ID might even display the Credit Union’s phone number. However, the call may not be from Castparts Credit Union, so it’s important to keep the following in mind: If the person asks for personal or account information, it's a scam. It’s always a scam and you should hang up and call the Credit Union directly at 503.771.2464.

What is phone number spoofing?

Spoofing is when a scammer tricks your phone's caller ID into showing another phone number, like Castparts Credit Union’s phone number. The scammer calls or sends a text, pretending to be an employee at the Credit Union or the Credit Union’s fraud department.  The scammer tries to trick you into giving out your personal information by pretending to be calling from the Credit Union.

The impostor might know some of your private personal information, like your email address or the first 6-8 digits of your debit or credit card. The scammer may claim that your account is going to be closed, or your card shut off due to fraud, unless you provide personal information. It’s a scam and you should not give out any information to the caller.

Is the phone number spoofed?

It’s difficult to tell if a phone number has been spoofed.  To make that determination, it’s important to think about the information the caller is requesting.

1) Castparts Credit Union will not call and ask for personal information.

The Credit Union will not contact members unprompted and ask for personal information we already have. If you didn’t initiate the call, you should never share any of the following information with a caller:

  • Account Number

  • Social Security Number

  • Login Passwords or PINs

  • Debit/Credit Card Number, PIN or Expiration Date

  • Any other personal information

2) Don't trust your phone’s caller ID. 

Scammers can make it look like they're calling from Castparts Credit Union or anywhere else.

3) Not sure? Hang up.

If you are suspicious, verify the call by hanging up and contacting Castparts Credit Union directly at 503.771.2464.

Did a scammer contact you? Let us know…

If a phone scammer calls or texts you, reporting it to us immediately can help protect you and others. Please give us a call as soon as possible at 503.771.2464 and share as much information as you can, including: 

  • Date and time of the call/text

  • Name, department and/or company the scammer used

  • What the scammer asked you to do or what information they asked you to share

  • The exact number that showed up on your phone’s caller ID

How Do ID Thieves Get Your Information Or Scam You

  • Spammers send unsolicited emails to huge mailing lists, and these may contain viruses or hackers, and even advertisements.

  • Spoofers and phishers call you or create a replica of an existing web page to fool you into submitting personal, financial or password data.

  • Pharming is where you are redirected to an illegitimate website instead of the website you want.

  • Vishing is short for voice phishing. In this scam consumers receive a phone call or email directing them to call a phone number and they are directed to verify sensitive information.

  • Old fashioned dumpster diving for your personal information is still in use, and thieves also continue to steal mail from your mailbox.

  • New scams crop up daily. They use social engineering techniques on everyone to attempt to con us into opening messages and entering our information.

Castparts Employees Federal Credit Union will not send you emails saying we need you to update your information to keep your account or debit / credit cards from being blocked. Never reply to an email from a link sent to you by email. If you receive an email, and you think it may be legitimate and want to ensure services are not stopped, call us or email us from the phone number you usually use.

Click here for tips on what to do if you were scammed.

Identity and Privacy Protection Strategies

Avoid scams, read about the latest at the Federal Trade Commission's website. Learn more about how to resolve identity theft, visit the Identity Theft Resource Center's website.

What To Do If You’re The Victim Of Identity Theft.

How do I request a "fraud alert" be placed on my file? You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer credit reporting companies place "fraud alerts" in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you may be a victim of identity theft.
 
A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies.
 
As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file.

Equifax: (877)-576-5734, Website
Experian: (888)-397-3742, Website
TransUnion: (800)-680-7289, Website

Visit USA.Gov to learn more about putting a freeze on your credit.

Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s site for tips on what to do if you were scammed.

Visit Balance to learn more about identity protection and fraud.