Phishing, Fraud and Scam Alert

Reminder to all members to be vigilant for attempted scams and fraud.

We remind all members to be continuously vigiliant for attempted scams and phishing efforts. There are criminals out there actively trying to get your money from you. They do this in many ways:

• Sending official looking texts and emails with links asking you to click on them.
• They may phone you and pretend to be the credit union or your bank. With technology today, they can make the number appear on your phone as a legitimate credit union number or an Irish number.
• You may see official looking investment opportunities on social media or you may receive an email pretending to be from an official investment broker.

The main things they want to get out of you is your PIN number or bank login details. Or to convince you to transfer your money to them by pretending it is a great investment opportunity or to book a holiday rental house or apartment, that doesn't exist.

Your bank or credit union will NEVER ask you for your PIN no., or account login details. Why would they need these? They are for your use only.

We give the following general tips to help you to protect yourself from scams and fraud.

• Do not share any of your account information through any link or over the phone. Even if they say they work for the credit union.
• If you are unsure that the phone call is genuinely coming from your bank or credit union. Hang up. You can phone back the institution directly and ask if they were trying to contact you.
• If the phone number looks Irish but there is a few seconds delay after you answer, the chances are the call is being transferred to criminals. You will next hear an automated message from a well known Irish company or bank or a voice pretending to be from a well known bank or Irish company. Hang up immediately and block the number. This is a scam.
• We will never send you an unsolicited text with a link
• We will never ask you for your PIN no.
• We will never ask you for your verification code.
• Please do not give out any of this information as it will give access to your account.
• Be extremely careful of the websites you visit. Make sure it is the legitimate company website before you make a booking or pay out money. Scammers can make websites that look like the real thing and send links, but usually the web address is different. Don't click on the link to that website. Go directly to the website yourself through your browser.
• If the returns on an investment 'opportunity' look too good to be true. They probably are. Hold on to your money. Ask your bank, credit union, or trusted broker about savings and investment options in reputable investments. At least you can be sure your funds are safe.

For security reasons, we will not change the mobile phone number on your account over the phone. We are not being awkward. If we allowed this a criminal could just as easily change your account mobile number to their number over the phone and receive your verification codes. To change your mobile number you must present at the counter with photo ID.

If you believe that you may have fallen prey to these scammers, please contact us immediately at 0818 297 007 or email help@lucancu.ie or drop into the Finnstown office.