Phishing, Fraud and Scams – Russell Country Federal Credit Union

Phishing, fraud and scams never take a break. That means that we can’t either. Fraudsters are always thinking of new ways to steal your money and identity. So, be vigilant, especially during the holidays and remember these simple things:

Scammers will use “scare tactics“ or “pressure” to entice you to give them your account number, social security number or other personal information over the phone. Don’t fall for it! Hang up and confirm the legitimacy of the call.
Scammers are experts at creating a sense of “false urgency”. Don’t be persuaded to “act quickly” and run the risk of making a decision that could be detrimental.
Don’t click on e-mail links coming from an unknown or unsolicited source. Even if it looks legitimate, it may not be. Check out the source before taking further action.
If making online purchases, confirm the site is legitimate and secure (https with a padlock icon), before proceeding any further.
Check your credit regularly for accuracy and take action immediately if something doesn’t look correct. Or better yet, open a Secure Checking Account with us and all the checking will be done for you!
Finally, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is. Call us at 406.761.2880 if you have any questions. We’re here to help you stay financial secure.

Recent and Current Scams

Debit Card Charges – August 26, 2024

We’ve been informed that Russell Country members are receiving text messages regarding ebay debit card charges that are not going through. The text instructs members to ignore the text if the charge is legitimate, but to click on the link if the charge is not yours, and you want to cancel the charge.

Although the message and the URL link look legitimate, they are not. Please be advised that these text messages ARE NOT from Russell Country FCU. The Credit Union will not notify you this way. These messages are a scam.

Please DO NOT click on the link, delete the message immediately, block the number and report it as fraudulent.

If you have questions, please contact us 406.761.2880.

Fraudulent Phone Calls and Texts

We’ve been notified that members have received calls and/or texts showing that they are from Russell Country FCU’s Main and MANG Office phone numbers or a Private Number. When answered or responded to the caller/sender is asking to verify the recipients account number or debit card number via an authorization code. THESE CALLS/TEXTS ARE FRAUDULENT. If you receive one of these calls or texts, do not respond or share any information. Contact the Credit Union at 406.761.2880 (GF) or 406.467.2541 (FF) during normal business hours, or contact Falcon Fraud at 1.888.241.2440 after hours or over the weekend. Thank you.

Text Message Verifications

We’ve recently seen an increase in fraudulent text messages going to our members regarding an invalid shipping address on a recent online order they may made. Members are advised to access the link in the text message to fix their shipping address. Do Not Click on these links. The best option for checking on an online order is to access the tracking link you received in the original order.

There are also text messages claiming to be from a financial institution, Amazon or Apple. The messages indicate a possible issue with your account or an order. These messages may be fraudulent and clicking on them may result in the fraudster collecting your personal information.

Do Not Click on these links or call a phone number that may be included in the message. Get out of the message and contact your financial institution, or the online company that’s referenced directly to confirm any information they may need.

If you have questions on any message you receive, please contact us at 406.761.2880 (GF) or 406.467.2541 (FF) and we’ll help you determine if the message is legitimate or not.