Fraud and Identity Theft
Please be cautious in response to unsolicited phone calls or text messages posing as Firstmark Credit Union. The security of your account(s) is of utmost importance to us.
For Calls | Hang up and reach out to your financial institution to verify the call.
For Texts | Don’t text back and reach out to your financial institution to verify the text.
If you need immediate assistance, please contact our call center at 210.442.0100, or send us a secure message via digital banking.
Fraud Alerts
- Be Wary of Charity Scams
- Malware targets Google Chrome users
- Beware of Tech Support Scams
- Don’t Fall for Fake Refund Calls
- Recover from identity theft
- Phony Copyright Infringement Notice Targets Instagram Users
- Tips to Avoid Holiday Phishing Scams
- Using payment apps? Here’s how to protect your privacy and avoid scams
- What is a dark web scan and can it protect your identity?
- Mobile scams: How to identify them and protect yourself
Spoofing
What is Spoofing
Caller ID “Spoofing” is one of the latest scams being used by fraudsters. Spoofing is a term used to refer to phone scams. Scammers will falsify the information that appears on a Caller ID to trick you. The number and name that appears could be from a legitimate business or government agency, so exercise caution when answering. Scammers will trick someone into giving away personal information. To learn more about spoofing, please watch this short video by the Federal Communications Commission.
Don’t Fall for Spoofing Scams
Remember, Firstmark Credit Union will never call members to ask for confidential information. We already have your account information. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers.
- If you answer a call from an unknown number, hang up immediately.
- Do not respond to any questions, especially if the questions can be answered with a “Yes” or “No.”
- Never give out personal information just because the caller asks for it.
- Do not give out account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords or other identifying information.
- The call may be from a person or company you know, so tell the caller you'll get back to them and hang up.
- If you think you may have been a victim of a scam, call Member Care immediately at 210.442.0100.
Smishing
What is Smishing?
“Smishing” (SMS phishing) is a text messaging scam that continues to become more prevalent. Smishing is similar to email “phishing” scams and as a result, identity theft.
A smishing attack uses a text message to deceive an unsuspecting individual into providing valuable information, such as an account number, card number, CVV number, card expiration date, password/pin, Social Security number and other personally identifiable information. Once obtained, scammers use the information to generate, among other things, counterfeit ATM cards. Attackers may then generate a fictitious card and begin conducting fraudulent cash withdrawals, sometimes in as little as an hour.
How it Works
A smishing attack uses a text message to deceive an unsuspecting individual into providing valuable information, such as an account number, card number, CVV number, card expiration date, password/pin, Social Security number and other personally identifiable information. Once obtained, scammers use the information to generate, among other things, counterfeit ATM cards. Attackers may then generate a fictitious card and begin conducting fraudulent cash withdrawals, sometimes in as little as an hour.
If you suspect you have been a victim of smishing, please notify Member Care at 210.442.0100 or your nearest Financial Center.
Five (5) Tips to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
- Use strong passwords
- Do not give out personal information (a financial institution already has your information)
- Limit oversharing on social networks
- Store important financial records safely
- Shred old statements, unused personal checks, invoices and financial information
The Smishing Alert was shared by the Texas Credit Union Department.
Identity Theft
If you feel you have been a victim of identity theft, protect yourself by following the four steps below:
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit report.
- Contact one credit reporting company.
- Ask the company to put a fraud alert on your credit file.
- Confirm that the company you call will contact the other 2 companies.
- Placing a fraud alert is free. The initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days.
- Be sure the credit reporting companies have your current contact information so they can get in touch with you.
- Update your files.
- The credit reporting company will explain that you can get a free credit report, and other rights you have.
- Mark your calendar.
- The initial fraud alert stays on your report for 90 days. You can renew it after 90 days.
- Update your files.
- Record the dates you made calls or sent letters.
- Keep copies of letters in your files.
- Contact one credit reporting company.
- Close accounts you believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- File a police report locally or where the identity theft took place.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).
Resources:
Protect Your Firstmark Credit Union VISA®
Register for a Verified by VISA®
Free Credit Report (annually):
annualcreditreport.com
Credit Reporting Companies
Equifax
(800) 525-6285
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
(888) 397-3742
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
(800) 680-7289
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Reach Out
Let’s Get Started
- Login or Enroll into Online Banking
- In the App, click “More” in the menu bar
- On desktop, click the three dots in the upper right hand corner
- Click “Skip-A-Pay” to start your skip
Log into Online Banking
Need to Enroll in Online Banking
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready:
- Social Security Number
- Member Number
- Choose a Username
- Have a Strong Password
Not signed up for online banking?
No problem, click here.
Let’s Get Started
Log into Online Banking
Need to Enroll in Online Banking
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready:
- Social Security Number
- Member Number
- Choose a Username
- Have a Strong Password
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiaries:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Requested Loan Amount
Choose one of the following:
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Initial Deposit Amount (ACH or Credit Card)
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Initial Deposit Amount (ACH or Credit Card)
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Requested Loan Amount
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Requested Loan Amount
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Requested Loan Amount
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Credit Limit
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Requested Loan Amount
- Estimated Property Value
- Estimated Property Tax and Insurance Amount
- Existing Mortgage Information
Choose one of the following:
Let’s Get Started
Needed Items
To make this process as quick as possible, please have the following ready for yourself and any joint account holders on the account, including beneficiary’s:
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Current Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Valid ID
- Requested Loan Amount
- Estimated Property Value
- Estimated Property Tax and Insurance Amount
- Existing Mortgage Information
Choose one of the following: