Recognize These Common Scams
Scammers use different tactics to gain your trust, steal personal information, or convince you to send money. Learn how common scams work, recognize warning signs, and know what to do if something doesn't seem right.
Romance scams happen when someone builds a relationship online, gains your trust, and then asks for money or financial information. These requests may begin weeks or months after the relationship starts.
If someone you've met online is asking for money or financial access, contact AACU before sending funds if you're unsure.
Warning Signs of a Romance Scam
A scammer may impersonate a technology company, online retailer, or service provider and claim you're owed a refund or have received too much money. They may then pressure you to return funds, share account information, or install software that gives them access to your device.
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- Claiming you've been overcharged, overpaid, or are owed a refund for a subscription or service
- Asking you to download software to process the refund
- Instructing you to enter the refund amount yourself
- Claiming you've received a refund worth thousands more than the amount originally discussed
- Showing a refund that appears to post to your account immediately
- Accusing you of stealing money or threatening job losses or account closures
- Demanding you return the money by cash, check, or wire transfer
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- Review your recent transactions in online or mobile banking using a different device, or contact AACU if you notice unfamiliar activity.
- Contact AACU to review any suspicious transactions. Scammers may move money between your own accounts to make a refund appear legitimate.
Before sending any money, verify the refund directly with AACU. Once funds have been sent to a scammer, recovering them may not be possible.
Investment scams promise opportunities to grow your money, often with claims of high returns and little or no risk. They may involve cryptocurrency, new businesses, or investments promoted through social media and online relationships.
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- Pressuring you to invest quickly
- Promising guaranteed high returns
- Sending unsolicited investment offers through social media, text messages, or phone calls
- Building an online relationship and encouraging you to invest, often claiming a friend or family member is making significant profits
- Requesting access to your digital wallet or instructing you to transfer funds to their wallet so they can "manage" your investment
- Requiring another person's involvement to log in to your investment account or digital wallet
- Preventing you from independently accessing or withdrawing your funds
If you recognize any of these red flags, stop communicating with the person immediately. Report the interaction to your local authorities, and contact us for additional guidance.
Scammers may impersonate government agencies or law enforcement officials, claiming you're facing criminal charges for something you haven't done. They may accuse you of missing a court date, being involved in drug-related activity, or committing other serious offenses to pressure you into complying with their demands.
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- Contacting you while claiming to represent a government agency and threatening criminal charges
- Claiming suspicious activity or criminal offenses, including drug-related charges, have been linked to your identity
- Telling you that you owe money related to a court date
- Demanding payment in cash or gift cards to resolve the alleged charges
- Claiming your accounts will be frozen unless you withdraw funds to protect them from seizure
- Threatening to close your credit union accounts if you disclose the allegations or refuse to cooperate
Keep in mind, government agencies will not call you about any potential charges against you. They will also not ask you to pay them in cash, deposit funds into a Bitcoin ATM or pay them in gift cards.
Scammers may pose as AACU and claim there's suspicious activity on your account. They may then instruct you to send money through Zelle® to another account to keep it safe.
AACU will never ask you to move money to protect your account. If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email, don't follow the instructions. Contact AACU directly using a trusted phone number.
Scams can take many forms, from fake job offers to unexpected requests for money. Explore these common tactics and learn what to watch for before sharing personal information or sending funds.
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Fake job offers may involve mystery shopping, stuffing envelopes, processing payments, or purchasing supplies. Be cautious if you're asked to pay upfront, purchase equipment, or send money before you've started working.
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Scammers may contact you claiming you've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize you never entered. They often ask you to pay taxes, processing fees, or other charges upfront before you can collect your supposed winnings.
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You may receive an unexpected message claiming you've inherited money from a distant relative or someone you don't know. Scammers may request personal information or payment for legal fees, taxes, or processing costs before releasing the alleged inheritance.
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Someone you meet online may build a friendship or personal connection before asking for money or financial assistance. Be cautious of unexpected requests for funds, especially when the person creates an urgent situation or avoids meeting in person.
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Scammers may send you a check for more than the agreed purchase price or payment amount, then ask you to return the difference. The check may initially appear to clear but later be returned as fraudulent, leaving you responsible for the money you've sent.
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Scammers may impersonate a family member, friend, or trusted individual and claim they need money immediately because of an accident, arrest, or other emergency. They often pressure you to act quickly without verifying the situation.
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Scammers may demand payment through gift cards for bills, taxes, fines, or other supposed obligations. They typically instruct you to purchase gift cards and share the card numbers or PINs so they can access the funds.
Common Scams - AACU Common Scams FAQs
Watch for an online romance where the other person soon starts asking for money, whether for emergencies, travel expenses, bills, or investment opportunities promising big returns. Review Report Fraud if you suspect a romance scam.
Scammers claim you were overpaid or overcharged for a service, ask you to process a refund, then pressure you to return funds by cash, check, or wire transfer. Review Account Resources to review recent activity if you're unsure.
Be cautious of pressure to invest quickly, guaranteed high returns, or requests for access to your own crypto wallet from an online contact claiming special insider knowledge. Review Report Fraud if you've encountered this pattern.
AACU will never send you a link by text or email asking for your account number, password, secure access code, or PIN related to Zelle transfers. Review Report Fraud if you've clicked a suspicious link.
Government agencies won't call demanding payment in cash or gift cards for alleged charges against you, so treat any such call as a scam and contact AACU directly instead. Review Best Practices for more prevention tips.
Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.