When an email looks official, it can be tempting to act quickly. That’s exactly what scammers count on. But one VyStar member, Lindz, proved that a little caution and a lot of intuition can make all the difference.
It started when she recently received an email that appeared to be from PayPal, claiming a purchase had been made on her account. The message included an invoice and a toll-free number to call for help. At first glance, everything looked legitimate, but for Lindz, something didn’t feel right.
“I had a gut feeling this wasn’t real,” Lindz said. “I haven’t used PayPal in over 20 years, so I knew something was off.”
Instead of calling the number listed in the email, she went to her local VyStar branch for guidance. There, a VyStar team member stepped in to help. Together, they called the number listed in the email to confirm it was a scam, careful not to provide any personal information. Within minutes, it was clear: The caller was trying to access sensitive financial details, likely debit or credit card numbers.
This hands-on approach from VyStar helped Lindz better understand how scammers use urgency and fear to push people into reacting quickly and sharing sensitive information.
After experiencing a fraud attempt, Lindz has advice for others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
“Don’t be so quick to call or click,” Lindz said. “Stop, think and look closely at what’s in front of you. Scammers want you to react fast, don’t give them that chance.”
At VyStar, we’re committed to partnering with our members to help protect them from fraud. If something feels off, remember: When in doubt, just reach out. Call VyStar at 904-777-6000 or 800-445-6289 (option 2) after hours to report fraudulent activity.
Members can also test their knowledge by taking the Fraud Fighter Quiz as well as visit VyStar’s Fraud Protection Hub for tips, common scam red flags, reporting steps and best practices for keeping their account secure, as well as hear a VyCast episode focused on the latest scams and how to identify them.