Watch Out! Scammers Are Trying to Steal Your Banking Info. 

Cybercriminals are unrelenting, and one of the scams involves fraudulent text messages and phone calls designed to trick you into providing your online banking credentials.  

How the Scam Works 

So, here’s how this scam typically goes down. It starts with a text message that seems to be from your financial institution. Here’s a quick look at what one of these messages may look like: 

Why This Scam is So Tricky 

This scam is sneaky because it plays on our fears. No one wants to see unauthorized charges, so the immediate reaction is to respond and stop it from happening. Plus, when you get a follow-up call or text, it feels even more legit. But here’s the deal—Arkansas Federal will never reach out unprompted and ask for your login credentials through text or over the phone.  

How to Protect Yourself

Now, let’s talk about how to protect yourself from this kind of scam. 

1. Verify Before You Act: If you are asked for your login credentials, ignore it. Please report suspicious messages, by calling us at 1.800.456.3000.  
   
2. Keep an Eye on Your Accounts: Check your accounts regularly to catch any unusual activity early. Also, staying updated on your credit report can help you spot anything out of the ordinary. For an easy way to do this, check out Credit IQ. It’s a free service that monitors your credit score and is available through Arkansas Federal’s digital banking. 
   
3. Use Extra Security: Use two-factor authentication (2FA) when accessing your account. Also, get familiar with the My Cards feature found in digital banking so that you can turn your debit and credit cards on/off, set spending limits, manage alerts, and more.  

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed? 

If you think you might have fallen for this scam, here’s what to do.  

1. Contact us ASAP: Let us know what happened so we can secure your account(s). 

2. Change Your Password: Update your digital banking password.  

3. Watch for Fraud: Keep a close eye on your account activity and consider putting a fraud alert on your credit file.  

The Bottom Line

Remember, Arkansas Federal will NEVER call, text or email you unprompted and ask you for sensitive account information or login credentials. There are legitimate times when we’ll call you or text you, but you won’t be asked for sensitive information out of the blue. And we will never contact you and ask for your password.