Scammers and fraudsters are leveraging our fears over COVID-19 and looking for yet another opportunity to scam consumers and financial institutions. Remain diligent when receiving and responding to emails, text messages, and social media posts during this time. These bad actors prey on our emotions so be careful! As we are a giving community, please consider reaching out to family and friends for the names of reputable organizations to donate to.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both issued recent advisories about online scammers using email phishing schemes in an attempt to profit on people’s confusion and fear surrounding the virus. Emails that may appear to be from a legitimate source are in fact not, and include misleading and malicious links. Scammers are hoping you will click on links within emails embedded with malware, and/or provide personal or financial information, such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, or credit card numbers.

How to keep your information secure:

1. Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. Phishing emails and texts often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment.
2. Watch for emails claiming to be from the CDC or experts saying they have information about the virus. The most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus can be found at www.cdc.gov or www.who.int
3. Do your homework when it comes to donations – don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation – and if someone wants cash, gift cards, or by wiring money – don’t do it!

If you believe that you have provided personal or financial information to a fraudster please reach out to Jolt Credit Union for assistance. We are here to assist you and keep your accounts secure! Click here for up-to-date information on Jolt's COVID-19 response.