What is an Impersonation Scam?

Impersonation scams occur when one of our members is convinced that they're communicating with a Texell employee via voice call (Vishing), SMS text message (Smishing), or through email (Phishing). However, the member is communicating with a scammer who is trying to gain your trust to illegally access your account and steal funds. Here's what you need to know about the latest impersonation scam.

Recent Impersonation Scam Targeting Texell Members

Fraudsters continue to impersonate Texell Credit Union employees to gain access to our members' accounts, debit cards, and credit cards. Your caller ID may make it appear that you are receiving a call from Texell because the scammer has spoofed our phone number. If you answer the call, fraudsters will gather bits of your personal or security information to steal your debit card information, bypass security protections to gain access to your Digital Banking account, or solicit and transfer funds. Please review the items below to help protect your accounts and your money.

We will never contact you to ask you to do any of the following actions:

• Transfer money from your account to another Texell account.
• Transfer money from your account to an account at another bank or credit union.
• Ask you not to access your Digital Banking account while we investigate potential fraud.

We will never contact you directly, via text, email, or phone call, for any of the following:

• Your Digital Banking credentials, including the access code that we send you when you login from a new device.
• Your credit or debit card information, including your card number, your PIN, or your CVV.

Please note: Texell representatives may need to send you an access code or ask for identity information when you initiate a call to Texell to verify your identity and to discuss your account details. Remember, we will never contact you unexpectedly and ask for your account details and information.

If you receive an unexpected call from Texell, it is always best to hang up and call Texell directly at 254.773.1604. If you believe your credit or debit card has been compromised, please temporarily block your card through Digital Banking.

Other Examples of Impersonation Scams

Scammers will do everything they can to appear like a credit union employee attempting to assist you with a problem on your account, usually with false claims that there are fraudulent transactions. It is not uncommon for the fraudster to identify themselves as someone from Texell's fraud department reaching out about suspicious activity. Frequently, members receive these calls after business hours, and the scammers are hoping to create a sense of urgency to make members act quickly.

Typical Smishing or Phishing Scenario

After identifying themselves as an employee in Texell’s fraud department, the scammer sends a spoofed text message or email to a member alerting them of suspicious debit card activity. Instructions urge the member to reply to the original message with account details, such as card numbers, CVV codes, PINs, their Digital Banking password, username, or access code. Smishing and Phishing gives the scammer valuable data they can use to access the member's account and make unauthorized charges.

Typical Vishing Scenario

Again, posing as a Texell representative, the scammer contacts the member using a spoofed phone number. The caller claims they need to discuss an important matter, but they must first confirm the member's identity. The scammer is already on Texell's website to log into Digital Banking and informs the member they need them to provide the access code sent to the member's phone. Since the caller says they're from Texell and the number appears to confirm it, the member doesn't hesitate to provide the requested information.

Vishing allows the scammer to use the information provided by the member to complete the login process. They then lock the member out of their account by changing their Digital Banking password. The fraudster then transfers funds from the member's account to their own temporary account before vanishing without a trace.

How to Protect Yourself from Impersonation Scams

• Never share private information via SMS text message. Legitimate attempts to validate credit or debit card activity only requires a simple response (YES or NO) via text.
• Do not click on links sent via SMS text or on links inside emails.
• Do not provide personal data via voice calls that you did not initiate, even if the caller ID reads "Texell Credit Union." Hang up and call us at 254.773.1604 or send us a secure message through Digital Banking. You can also take a screenshot of Smishing or Phishing message and send it to Texell in Digital Banking.

Be assured that our systems remain secure and are not the cause of these fraud attempts. Often, the criminals behind these fraud attempts target multiple financial institutions, hoping to trick members or customers into sharing their sensitive data.

Texell is committed to educating and helping members learn how to avoid becoming victims of these types of scams. For more information on keeping your account and information safe, read IT’s Tips for Account Security.

If you wish to comment on this article or have an idea for a topic we should cover, we want to hear from you! Email us at editor@texell.org.