We are seeing a rise in a new scam targeting our communities.
Please read and share this to protect you or your loved ones!
How it works:
- The Contact: You get a call, text, or pop-up from someone claiming to be from the FBI/IRS or other government agency, Apple/some other tech support, or even your financial institution’s “Fraud Department.”
- The Fear: They claim your accounts or personal information are “compromised”, sometimes claiming there is illegal activity occurring, and your money is no longer safe in the bank/credit union.
- The Instruction: They tell you to liquidate investments/accounts and buy gold bars to “protect your assets.”
- The Handoff: They send a “courier” or an “agent” to your home or a parking lot to pick up the gold for “safekeeping”- they may even provide a password that only the individual authorized to pick up the gold will know.
- THE TRUTH: Once you hand over that gold, it is gone forever.
- Anyone telling you your money isn’t safe at your financial institution or in your retirement or investment accounts.
- Requests to keep the conversation a “secret” from your family or bank staff.
- Anyone asking you to buy gold, silver, or gift cards to “secure” your funds.
What to do: If you receive a call like this, HANG UP. Call us directly at 888-599-2265.
At SCU your financial security is our top priority. Recently, we are seeing a rise in a new scam targeting our communities- “Gold Bar Courier Scams.”
The scam typically begins with a “tech support” pop-up on your computer or a phone call or text from someone impersonating a government official. They use high-pressure tactics to convince you that:
- Your Social Security number has been linked to a crime.
- Hackers are currently inside your bank accounts.
- You must move your money into “physical assets” (gold) to hide it from the criminals.
The scammers will even stay on the phone with you while you go to your bank/credit union to ensure you don’t tell the tellers the truth. They may provide you with a “script” or a “secret passcode” to give to a courier who will arrive at your home to collect the gold.
- We will never tell you to buy gold bars. There is no legitimate “safety” reason for a member to convert liquid cash or investments into gold for the government or the credit union.
- We will never send a courier to your home. Federal agencies and financial institutions do not send people to your front door to collect cash, gold, or valuables.
- We will never ask you to keep a transaction secret. If someone tells you, “Don’t tell the credit union staff why you are withdrawing this money,” they are trying to prevent us from protecting you.
What Should You Do?
If you have been contacted or have already made a withdrawal:
- Stop All Communication: Do not answer further calls from the scammers.
- Call Us Immediately: 888-599-2265
- Report it to the FBI: File a report at ic3.gov. This helps law enforcement track these criminal rings.
- Notify Local Police: Since this involves a physical courier, your local police need to be aware of the activity in your neighborhood.
Remember: Your deposits here at SCU are federally insured by the NCUA. Your money is safest right here with us.