"Cash Back" Scam

A new scam has made its debut - and it involves unscrupulous cashiers helping themselves to your money by posting an unauthorized "cash back" option to your debit or credit card.

Here's how it works: You've finished your shopping; everything seems to be hurried, the crowds are noisy, the lines are long, the cash registers beep and jingle - and all you want to do is get out of the store.

Finally, your purchases are rung up and bagged and you swipe your debit or credit card, sign or punch in your PIN, grab your receipt and make for your car. Later, however, you get a chance to examine your receipt and realize you got $20 or $40 cash back - but you didn't! Instead, the cashier simply approved the cash back and pocketed the money. (In one instance, the cashier had a friend help with the scam: the friend was next in line and took the money, so the cashier wouldn't have it on her if someone checked.)

You've just been robbed. And to make matters worse, if it was a cash back on your credit card, many card companies charge an extra fee for cash advances (which is how this would be processed) plus charge a higher interest rate.

The lesson: Watch every step of your purchasing process; watch each item getting rung up (check for sale prices, too), and then doublecheck your receipt for any unauthorized activitiy BEFORE you walk away. Yes, you could be holding up the line, but you've waited in that line for others - and it's your money!

Email Phishing Scam

CO-OP Financial Services, Education First Credit Union’s Debit and ATM card service provider, has notified us about email phishing scams and deceitful attempts to obtain cardholder information with the intent of committing fraudulent activity against member accounts. Multiple member credit unions have recently reported a phishing scam they are experiencing.

This fraudulent attempt to capture card numbers is done with an automated text message referring to themselves as CO-OP Service Credit Union Customer Services Department from a four-digit phone number of 3693.

The text message indicates that the member’s credit or debit card has unusual activity on their account. In order to restore the member’s account access, the message asks the member to call 813.600.1551 and enter their 16-digit credit or debit card number along with three additional pieces of information linked to the member’s account.

CO-OP Financial Services would never refer to themselves as CO-OP Services Credit Union Customer Services Department, and would not send text messages to cardholders about their accounts. When CO-OP staff makes or receives calls from cardholders, they identify themselves as the Card Member Security Department.

There are so many ways for perpetrators to attempt to get personal information, including the use of auto-dialers and text messages. It is important to remember to limit the release of your personal information in order to protect yourself from fraud.