Together against elder fraud
Get simple tips to catch scams early and protect your money and personal details.
SECURITY CENTER
Fraud prevention starts with you
Empower yourself with knowledge. Discover how to recognize red flags and protect your accounts like a pro.
Spotting red flags and verifying sources can help you avoid scams and stay protected.
Your security is our priority
- Look: Carefully examine your statements for unusual activity, such as unauthorized charges or withdrawals.
- Listen: Be wary of unsolicited calls, emails, or text messages asking for personal information.
- Verify: Always verify the identity of anyone requesting personal information, especially if you are unsure of the source.
- Report: If you suspect fraud on on of your PenFed accounts, contact us immediately.
Scammers can spoof caller ID to appear as a legitimate entity. Be cautious even if the caller ID seems familiar.
Watch out for unsolicited calls or pop-ups offering technical support. Scammers may try to trick you into downloading malicious software to gain access to your personal information.
Be wary of unexpected refund offers. Scammers may claim you’ve been overcharged and ask you to return a portion of the funds. Once you send the money, the original transaction may be reversed, leaving you in a financial loss.
Identity theft is when someone uses another person’s personal identifying information, such as their name, identifying number, or debit/credit card number without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
Potential indicators of identity theft
- You fail to receive bills or other mail.
- You notice suspicious or unexplained activity or accounts on your statement(s) or online.
- Unfamiliar accounts appear on your credit report.
- The IRS notifies you of a tax return or employer not associated with you that has been linked to you.
- You get notified that your information was compromised by a data breach.
Stop. If they ask you for anything, decline. Even if you were hacked, your card company would never ask for a password.
Drop. End the call as soon as you suspect it's a scam. Don't feel obligated to be polite.
Call. Contact a known number to report the incident.
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. This requires a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password.
Avoid downloading any software recommended by an unsolicited caller. Scammers may use this to gain access to your computer and steal your information.
Log into PenFed Online to report your lost or stolen card. We'll cancel your card and send you a replacement immediately.
Additionally, you should
- Notify any merchants that automatically charge your card and provide them with your new card information.
- Review your transaction history for suspicious activity, and contact us immediately if there are transactions that you did not make.
Call PenFed at 1-800-247-5626. If possible, provide the number of the last check that was written or the name of the person or business to whom it was written.
Additionally, you should
- Log into PenFed Online to view digital copies of your checks and to see if any unauthorized checks have been written to your account.
- Schedule an appointment to visit a PenFed Financial Center so you can close your current account and open a new one. If you have any recurring payments set up in your current checking account, update those payments in your new account.
- If checks you wrote haven't been cashed at the time your checkbook was lost or stolen, you may need to contact the payees and send them checks from your new account.
Call PenFed at 1-800-247-5626 and report the suspicious transaction. You may also want to contact the merchant. It is sometimes easier and more efficient to resolve any issue directly with the merchant.
