Member Safety Alerts

SAFETY ALERTS

MEMBER

Alerts and warnings to help protect you from fraud and other malicious activity

Please be aware that fraudsters are taking advantage of the coronavirus stimulus package to scam individuals. The following Member Tips will help keep your money and identity safe:

The government doesn’t communicate through social media outlets, such as Facebook. Don’t click on any social media ads offering emergency grants, especially to pay medical bills.
A government agency will never request a fee to receive a grant. If you receive a phone call or email claiming you qualify for a grant and need to pay a “processing fee,” hang up or discard the message.
Beware of “fake” government agencies. NEVER give out your SSN or credit union information to anyone promising you money. Check out any agency to make sure it is real.
Secure your mailbox. Fraudsters often steal U.S. Treasury checks out of the mail and attempt to cash them. This happened after Hurricane Katrina.

Horizons FCU verifies every U.S. Treasury check that comes in for deposit. We do not accept third-party U.S. Treasury checks that are signed over to members.

FBI WARNS OF FRAUD SCHEMES RELATED TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC As of March 20, 2020 the FBI alerts people to be on the lookout for fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. They advise, “Scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to steal your money, your personal information, or both. Don’t let them. Protect yourself and do your research before clicking on links purporting to provide information on the virus; donating to a charity online or through social media; contributing to a crowdfunding campaign; purchasing products online; or giving up your personal information in order to receive money or other benefits.” If you believe you are the victim of an Internet scam or cyber crime, or if you want to report suspicious activity, please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov . Horizons is here for you, watching out for your safety during this difficult world pandemic.

Be alert that members are receiving fraudulent checks along with an attached letter with instructions to participate in a “secret shopper” program. The letter dictates that you deposit the check and use the funds to buy thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, then email the redemption codes to an email address. These are scams and are not to be trusted. Please call us or ask at the teller window before depositing any money into your accounts if you have received a letter and/or check that is similar.

Please be sure to monitor your accounts and notify us immediately if you notice suspicious activity.

You can monitor your accounts conveniently through Horizons @ Home, Horizons Mobile, or Telephone Teller. Our free CardValet app will also help you monitor and control your debit card transactions.

Be sure to never share your PIN with anyone and safeguard your finances.

To protect against theft and unauthorized use of your credit and debit cards, Horizons FCU monitors your card activity. As part of this protection, transactions made outside of your normal activity area can cause problems and unwanted blocks on your cards. Before you travel, please contact us at (607) 724-5876 and let us know the dates of your trip and where you’ll be going, along with contact information, so that we can ensure your card will not be denied.