Understanding Job Scams

Job scams come in various forms, but they all share the same goal. They try to deceive you into giving away your personal information or money. Some common types of job scams include:

1. Fake Job Listings: These are posted on real job boards by scammers aiming to gather your personal data or charge for services that don’t exist.
2. Phishing Scams: Scammers send emails that appear to be from reputable companies, asking you to click on a link and enter your personal information.
3. Payment Forwarding Scams: These involve being asked to accept payments into your bank account and then transfer money elsewhere, often resulting in your account being compromised.
4. Fake Recruitment Agencies: These agencies charge you upfront fees for their services but provide little to no legitimate job leads.
5. Work From Home Jobs: The allure of flexible hours and the convenience of working from home makes these scams particularly effective. Scammers post ads for positions like customer service representatives or personal assistants, promising high pay for easy tasks. These scams may involve check fraud: the scammer sends a fake check for supplies and asks you to wire back the excess amount, leaving you with the loss when the check bounces. Alternatively, they may ask you to pay for training, purchase gift cards, or cash checks as part of the job.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

To protect yourself from job scams, be on the lookout for these warning signs:

• Unsolicited Job Offers: Be cautious of job offers that come out of the blue, especially if you haven’t applied for them.
• High Salary for Minimal Work: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of jobs that promise high pay for little effort.
• Upfront Payments: Legitimate employers do not ask for money upfront for training, uniforms, or background checks.
• Personal Information Requests: Be suspicious if you’re asked to provide sensitive information like your Social Security number or bank account details. Especially if it’s early in the hiring process.
• Vague Job Descriptions: If the job description is vague or the company is unwilling to provide detailed information, it may be a scam.

Steps to Take If You’ve Been Scammed

If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a job scam, it’s crucial to act quickly:

1. Report the Scam: Report the scam to the job board where you found the listing, as well as to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your state’s consumer protection office.
2. Contact The Family Credit Union: Inform us immediately if you’ve shared any financial information or made any payments. We can help secure your accounts and prevent further losses.
3. Monitor Your Credit: Regularly check your credit report for any unauthorized activities. Consider putting a freeze on your credit.
4. Change Passwords: Change passwords for your email, bank accounts, and any other online accounts that may be at risk.

How The Family Credit Union Can Help

At The Family Credit Union, we believe in supporting our members beyond just financial services. Here’s how we can help you protect yourself from job scams:

• Educational Resources: We provide our member with access to Educational Resources, Zogo and Banzai, because knowledge is your first line of defense.
• Secure Financial Transactions: Our secure online banking and transaction monitoring services help protect your accounts from unauthorized access and fraudulent activity.

Stay safe and smart in your job search, and remember that The Family Credit Union is always here to help.

Are you tired of stacks of paper piling up from your bank, credit card, or loan statements? At The Family Credit Union (TFCU) in the Quad Cities, switching to e-Statements makes managing your accounts easier, safer, and more convenient—all while reducing clutter in your home.

Discover the Benefits of Enrolling in e-Statements

1) Access Anytime, Anywhere

With e-Statements, you can view all your accounts in one secure location, 24/7. Check balances, monitor transactions, and quickly spot any unusual activity without waiting for the mail.

2) Instant Availability

With traditional statements, you need to wait for the statement to be printed, stuffed into an envelope, go through the postal system and eventually make its way to your door. With e-statements, you receive an email at the end of the statement period that your account statement is ready to view. You can then log into your account and have immediate – and secure – access to your statement.

3) Enhanced Security

Your bank statements are full of sensitive financial and personal information. YOUR financial and personal information. When you switch to e-Statements, you are reducing the risk that your personal information will inadvertently fall into the wrong hands. E-statements help reduce your exposure to identity theft through your paper documents.

4) Eco-Friendly Choice

Switching to e-Statements is a simple way to be more Earth friendly – from the reduction in the amount of paper that is used (the statement and also the envelopes!) to the amount of resources it takes to deliver that paper to your door.

5) Declutter

Using less paper is also better for your immediate home environment.  Clutter happens.  But it doesn’t have to!  You may have a stack of “important mail” that stacks up and becomes unmanageable.  When you sign up for e-statements, you don’t have to worry about misplacing your statement.  Your statement history is archived securely.  It is available for you whenever and wherever you are. 

Ready to Make the Switch?

TFCU members in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas can start enjoying the convenience, security, and environmental benefits of e-Statements right now. Log in to your account to enroll—it’s quick, easy, and better for you and the planet!

The FTC launched ReportFraud.ftc.gov, a website that makes it easy for people to report fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Over the last couple years, fraud and scams have been on the rise due to COVID, so it could not have come at a better time. Help your community; report and stop scams.

If you get calls, emails, or mail about:

• “Free vacations”
• “Miracle” cures
• Your Social Security number
• Buying gift cards
• and more!

Common types of fraud that you may encounter include:

• Mail fraud
• Credit and debit card fraud
• Social Security fraud
• Voter fraud
• Elder fraud
• Stolen tax refunds
• Drivers license fraud
• and more!

Take a second and look up if this could be a scam. You may also add your phone number to the official “Do Not Call” Registry here: www.donotcall.gov. Do not send money to people you don’t know. Do not give out your Social Security number to people you don’t know. If you are called and suspect a scam, hang up. If you suspect that the call, email, or mail could be a scam or fraud, report it. Contact us if you believe your accounts have been compromised. It will help protect you and your community!