True Crime: The Great Pretender

We share these true stories of member experiences to help you avoid falling victim to a scam. If you ever have questions about the validity of a request for money or information about your account, contact us.

Paula received what she thought was a phone call from the FBI asking for her help in their investigation of some suspected cyber criminals. All she had to do was wire funds to an account, and the FBI would do the rest. Wanting to help, Paula wired the funds and fell victim to an impersonation scam.

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​Impersonation scams have targeted many of our members. Please remember (and remind others) to watch for these red flags:

• The caller claims to work for a government agency or law enforcement. 
• You’re asked to wire money.
• If you ask questions or resist, you’re threatened with a blocked social security number or legal trouble. 
• You’re asked to purchase a gift card and read the numbers to the caller. 
• You’re told not to involve your credit union or bank.

The FBI, Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, and law enforcement will never ask you to send money. If you or someone you know has questions, contact us for good information from a source you can trust. We are here to help you keep your accounts safe. You can also visit our security page for more tips.