Security & Online Safety Tips

Artificial intelligence can be a helpful resource for researching, learning, and completing everyday tasks, but it's important to be mindful of the information you share.

• Never enter FORUM account numbers, passwords, PINs, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive personal or financial information into an AI tool.
• Double-check the answers. AI can provide incorrect or outdated information. Verify important financial information with a trusted source before acting on it. 
• Be cautious with financial advice. Don't rely solely on AI when making important decisions about your money, investments, loans, or accounts. 
• Think before you click. Be cautious of links, websites, emails, images, or messages generated or recommended by AI, especially if they ask for personal information or money. 
• Watch for AI-powered scams. Scammers can use AI to create convincing messages, images, voices, and videos that impersonate people or organizations you trust.

Common Scam Scenarios

• Bank or Credit Union Employee: Someone claiming to be from your bank or credit union calls you and tells you to move your money to protect it. Or they may claim to be assisting you with fraud on your account and ask you to provide online banking credentials like usernames or passwords, or share a one-time password sent to you via text or email. FORUM would never call and ask members to confirm their usernames and would never ask a member to share their online banking password. If a member falls for this scam they have willingly provided their account information to another person and cannot get money that may then be stolen from the account back. This situation is a person falling for a scam, not fraudulent activity. The scam can continue in various directions. The scammer may ask the member to send them money, withdraw money and put it into Bitcoin or some other action.  
• Bitcoin/Debit/ATM Cards (multiple variations on this scam): 
  • Members are told FORUM is under investigation, their account has been hacked, and to withdraw all their money from their FORUM accounts, in cash, and then to deposit the money into Bitcoin ATM’s around the Indianapolis area. Like most scams, members are told not to mention anything about being told to do this or to trust FORUM employees when requesting to withdraw the money. See bullet point reminders below - FORUM would never advise removing your money from an insured account to deposit it into Bitcoin. 
  • Scammers are calling members from what looks like the phone number on the back of FORUM debit cards. They tell members their account has been compromised and to withdraw all the money from their account and to deposit the money into Bitcoin so a new account can be opened for them. The scammer is also telling members "don't tell anyone what you are doing when withdrawing the money." Remember:
    • FORUM would never tell you to withdraw your money and deposit into Bitcoin.
    • FORUM will not ask for your debit card number during a fraud call.
    • FORUM would never tell you "not to tell" another person about the requested transaction. 
  • Members and non-members are getting text messages stating their ATM card is frozen. Below is an example of the text message.
    • MSG: C.U. alert Your ATM Card has been frozen Call immediately (Please note the spelling is wrong) Once you call the number there is a recording: "PLEASE ENTER YOUR CARD NUMBER, PEN & EXPIRATION AND SECURITY CODE ON THE BACK."
• Blackmail: Someone claims to have information about you that would be embarrassing if it were released publicly. 
• Charity and Disaster Fraud: Charity and disaster relief scams happen all the time, but are especially prevalent after a natural disaster occurs. Fraudsters set up fake donation platforms and keep the money for themselves. Make sure the charity you are giving to is trustworthy and check its track record using Federal Trade Commission resources. Examine the organization's name, website, and history before donating.
  • Common tactics scammers use include copying a reputable organization's name, creating a sense of urgency with pressure to give money immediately, thanking you for a donation you did not make, and asking you to send a donation using wire transfer, cash, gift cards, or virtual currency such as cryptocurrencies or stablecoins.
• Credit Card Scam: Bad actors are using phone scams to trick you into giving them your credit card information and then approving transactions they make using your credit card. Many times, the phone call looks like it is coming from FORUM Credit Union - caller ID can be faked. If you are not sure about a caller's identity, hang up the phone and call FORUM directly from the phone number on our website. This is especially important if the caller is asking you to provide any personal information. 
• Emergency: Someone claiming to be your friend, loved one, or grandchild contacts you and needs money immediately. They might state that they are in trouble and it is an emergency. 
• Employment: You get hired online for a job and the job includes moving money through your personal account, or you receive a large check to purchase supplies, and you are asked to send some of it back. 
• FBI/Homeland Security/IRS/Law Enforcement: Someone claiming to be from one of these agencies asks for your assistance and instructs you to move your money to protect it. Or perhaps they claim you are personally in trouble but can avoid criminal charges or fines if you cooperate. 
• FORUM Fraud Team Text Scam: Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to members impersonating FORUM Credit Union and claiming to be the FORUM Fraud Team. The message will ask if you recently changed your online banking password, and when replied to they will respond saying your account has been locked and that in order to unlock it, you must provide your debit card number. 
• Holiday Shopping Scams: The holidays can be a festive time of year, filled with parties and gift-giving. But with so many people spending more, it's also a prime time for scammers. Scammers create professional online stores that offer unique items at a steep discount. They may also pose as customer service contacts using fake customer support phone numbers. Calling for help exposes your financial information and may lead to unauthorized charges. Paying with apps can be risky since such payments are usually irreversible, and scammers almost always ask for payments this way.
  • Protect yourself from holiday shopping scams by remaining wary of unbelievable deals, paying by credit card only at reputable retailers, checking all website addresses to make sure they are secure, and looking for the BBB Seal to make sure the business honors the Better Business standards.
• Home Repair: Someone you did not contact reaches out to you or visits your home and offers to perform home repairs and needs a large amount of money up front. Or they run into unexpected problems part way through the project and tell you more money is required to finish the job. 
• Lottery/Prizes: You think you've won the lottery or a prize, but you need to pay taxes or fees up front. The scammer might even give you some money to pay the taxes/fees. 
• Microsoft/Tech Support: A warning pops up on your computer and provides a phone number for you to call. The call leads to the scammer asking you to withdraw or move money. 
• Mortgage Loans: Credit companies, unaffiliated with FORUM Credit Union, obtain mortgage loan information from public record sources. These companies then send letters to consumers that deceptively appear to come from FORUM. These letters use language such as "IMPORTANT NOTICE, please call regarding information about your loan with FORUM Credit Union." These letters are not associated with FORUM and never include the FORUM logo.
• New Year's Resolution Scams: Keeping resolutions isn't easy, so scammers make their solutions seem simple and easy. Scammers will create fake fitness and diet programs. They'll offer amazing deals and make impossible promises for supplements or equipment that never live up to their expectations. Lots of companies offer "free trials" at this time of year, including phony subscription services. But instead of meal kits, planners or wellness products, you may end up with recurring charges that are difficult to cancel. Be wary of quick-fix financial coaching or crypto schemes. If someone is promising outsized returns or personalized financial help, they could just be someone trying to get your banking information.
• Package Delivery Issues Scam: Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to people impersonating the United States Postal Service. The message will say there is a problem with your delivery and provide a link that appears to be from the real USPS site, but isn't. The link will redirect you to pay a small "redelivery fee" with the goal of taking your credit card or social security numbers.
• Romance Scam: Someone you have never met in person has shown romantic interest (possibly for many months) and is asking for money or assistance with moving money. Click here.
• Stealing Checks from Mailboxes: Checks placed inside greeting cards are being stolen from mailboxes, rewritten and cashed. Checks are also being stolen from post office mail boxes and even from the post-office itself. The safest way to pay companies or people is with online bill payment for companies and using FORUM's free gift pay, available within online banking. 
• Task Scam: Scammers will send a text to a member, asking them to complete tasks online for money. The tasks are usually simple and repetitive, such as rating product images, watching videos, or rating videos. The member will be directed to complete a set number of these tasks in an app or on a website. They will be told that they can earn money for completing each task, but will only be allowed to do a certain amount before being prompted to upgrade their account. The only way to continue completing tasks is to pay the upgrade fee, but it is impossible to withdraw the earnings from the platform.
• Toll Text Scam: Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages to people impersonating MnDOT, E-Z Pass, or other tolling agencies. The messages falsely claim recipients have unpaid tolls, invoices or violations, and urge them to verify personal information or submit a payment using a link provided. MnDOT does not send toll notifications via text message.