October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which makes it a great time to freshen up on best practices to help prevent fraud on your account. From card protection services to free credit reports, VyStar Credit Union has a variety of safeguards in place to help protect members from fraud. That’s because we know scammers are out there, and we are committed to helping you stay one step ahead of them.
The best way to do that is to be aware of common schemes and to know the quickest way to report suspected fraud to the credit union. Many of these schemes are known as phishing, which is a type of cybercrime where victims are usually approached via email, phone call or text message. In these instances, criminals attempt to make it seem like they are reaching out to you on behalf of a financial institution. However, there are some key things to keep in mind:
Members will never receive a phone call or text message from VyStar asking you to sign in or provide personal information.
The same goes for emails and all other forms of communications, so it is best to always avoid clicking on suspicious links.
Before clicking links or downloading attachments, make sure the email is legitimate. Ask yourself if it contains an offer that’s too good to be true or if the greeting is too generic.
Even though caller ID may show a VyStar number, it’s important to remember that fraudsters can spoof the phone number to make it look like they’re calling from anywhere.
If you are contacted from someone saying they are from VyStar, the best thing to do is hang up and call our Contact Center at 904-777-6000 or 800-445-6289. Our team will be happy to work with you to clear up any questions or concerns.
Download updates from the software developer directly and enable automatic updates.
Passwords are your first line of defense against cybercriminals, so remember to make yours long, unique and complex.
Have additional questions? Call us. We’re here to help you keep your accounts and financial information safe and secure.