{"id":5120,"date":"2020-04-21T13:44:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T20:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/?p=5120"},"modified":"2025-10-27T12:33:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:33:36","slug":"beware-scammers-want-to-take-advantage-of-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/beware-scammers-want-to-take-advantage-of-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware: Scammers want to take advantage of you"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"co-flex_row co-flex_row__blue co-flex_row__long-form-text co-flex_row__next_row__blog-contributors\" >\n\t<div class=\"co-flex_row--row co-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form--block co-long_form--block__nomedia prow items-start \">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form--text pcol-md:12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form--content\"><h2>Scammers want to take advantage of you.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>They\u2019re tricky and constantly creating new ways to get their hands on your personal information.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At Sound Credit Union, your privacy and security are a priority to us. Here are some tips to help protect yourself:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Use Strong Passwords<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use different passwords for each account. If you need help remembering your passwords, try using a password manager.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t just protect your accounts \u2013 protect your devices too.\u00a0 Use passwords on your phone and computer.<\/li>\n<li>Try using longer passphrases instead of passwords.\u00a0 They are easier to remember and more difficult to hack.<\/li>\n<li>For more tips, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/tips-for-strong-passwords-the-stranger-the-better\/\">click here to read our blog post<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Be Vigilant<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scams can come in many forms: email, text, a phone call, mail, or in-person.<\/li>\n<li>If you receive an unsolicited phone call, do not provide the caller with your account number, passwords, or PINs.<\/li>\n<li>Should you receive a suspicious phone call, verify that it\u2019s authentic by calling them back using the phone number published on the company\u2019s official website.<\/li>\n<li>Steer clear of suspicious websites and links. Don\u2019t click on a link without confirming the message is legitimate.<\/li>\n<li>Delete emails from unknown senders.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t reply, click on links, download attachments, or call phone numbers listed in suspicious emails.<\/li>\n<li>Protect your personal documents \u2013 shred sensitive documents!<\/li>\n<li>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/personal\/security\/\">protecting your account information<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Sound members have access to <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcufd.merchantsinfo.com\/default.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\">Fraud Defender<\/a>, a fully managed identity theft recovery program that takes the work out of identity theft recovery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Be Aware of Current Scams<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be aware of scammers who are asking for payments with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/beware-of-gift-card-scams\/\">gift cards<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>During the holidays and throughout the year, be aware of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/avoiding-charity-scams\/\">charity scams<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>There are vaccine scams happening during the pandemic to be on the look out for.<\/li>\n<li>Stay up-to-date on current scams that are out there. Visit the <a style=\"font-size: 18px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.ftc.gov\/features\/scam-alerts\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Trade Commission&#8217;s Consumer Information<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: 300;\"> site to learn about what recent scams to be aware of.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Identity Theft<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s unfortunate but many people become victims of identity theft &#8211; <i>the crime of using another person\u2019s personal information, credit history or other identifying characteristics in order to make purchases or borrow money without that person\u2019s permission.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>If you have your identity compromised, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/identity-theft-how-to-protect-yourself-from-scammers\/\">click here<\/a> to learn about what steps to take.<\/p>\n<p>We want to make sure you know how to protect yourself. If you feel someone has gained access to your personal information, please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/contact\/\">contact us<\/a> immediately. Sound is here for you and together we can keep your personal information safe.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More Helpful Links<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>National Cybersecurity Alliance:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/staysafeonline.org\/resources\/stay-safe-online-related-links\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Stay Safe Online<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Federal Trade Commission:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/tips-advice\/business-center\/small-businesses\/cybersecurity\/basics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cybersecurity Basics for Small Businesses<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Cybersecurity &amp; Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA):\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/us-cert.cisa.gov\/ncas\/tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tips and Guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"co-flex_row co-flex_row__last co-flex_row__blog-contributors\" >\n\t<div class=\"co-flex_row--row co-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor--img_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/HomanCharlene_scu-86_300x300.jpg\" class=\"co-blog_contributor--img\" alt=\"Charlene Homan Sound Credit Union Risk Management &amp; Compliance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/HomanCharlene_scu-86_300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/HomanCharlene_scu-86_300x300-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/HomanCharlene_scu-86_300x300-75x75.jpg 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"co-blog_contributor--name\">Charlene Homan<\/h3><div class=\"co-blog_contributor--title\">VP Risk Management &#038; Compliance<\/div><div class=\"co-blog_contributor--bio text-component\"><p>Charlene Homan serves as the Vice President of Risk Management and Compliance at Sound Credit Union, where she leads compliance initiatives and oversees risk management strategies, including BSA compliance, fraud prevention, quality assurance, and enterprise risk management. With over 15 years in the credit union industry, Charlene has advanced from an entry-level position to her current leadership role, demonstrating comprehensive understanding of credit union landscape that supports Sound Credit Union&#8217;s values while ensuring a strong commitment to regulatory compliance and risk management.<\/p>\n<p>As Sound&#8217;s appointed Compliance Officer, Charlene ensures adherence to all relevant laws and regulations while providing essential oversight on compliance issues, with the overarching goal of effectively serving members. She actively engages in professional development by attending key industry conferences and training programs. She is passionate about supporting her teams to create awareness to the membership and surrounding communities, with the intent to empower individuals to protect themselves from common scams and other fraud activities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor--social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Connect<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/charlene-homan-1a856662\/\" class=\"co-social_share--link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"LinkedIn\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"icon-svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Icon LinkedIn\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-content\/themes\/soundcu-theme\/images\/sprite-icons.svg#linkedin\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scams can come in many forms: email, text, a phone call, mail, or in-person. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/beware-scammers-want-to-take-advantage-of-you\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5121,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47,50],"tags":[64,164,118,119,115,120,121,122],"class_list":["post-5120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tools-advice","category-life-finances","tag-fraud","tag-identity","tag-protect","tag-protection","tag-scammers","tag-scams","tag-security","tag-suspicious"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5120"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17404,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5120\/revisions\/17404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}