Gift Card Fraud

Gift cards are one of the most popular gifts to give and receive. They are easy to purchase and easy to carry, but most of all they allow the receiver to purchase something they actually want.  As gift cards continue to increase in popularity, so does fraud. Here are a few gift card scams to be aware of:

The Switch Up

This happens when a customer hands a gift card to a dishonest cashier for activation. The cashier will activate another card instead and hand the original back to the customer, or the cashier will activate the original card and hand the unsuspecting customer a different card.

How to Protect Yourself

• Be sure not to take your eyes off the card you hand to the cashier and be sure they hand it back to you as soon as they activate it. 
• Check the gift card number on the activation receipt to be sure it matches the number on the gift card. 
• Keep receipts when purchasing gift cards

Card Not Present Scam

This scam can take place where merchants have large display racks of gift cards. Fraudsters will use machines to lift serial numbers off of gift cards, or they will take a handful of cards and go to another part of the store, write down the serial numbers and put them back on the display racks. They will periodically check to see if the card has been activated and then attempt to make an online purchase using the gift card number.

How to Protect Yourself 

• Make sure the package hasn’t been tampered with.
• Ensure the grey strip on the back hasn’t been scratched off.

Paying less than face value

Some websites will sell gift cards for less than face value. They may advertise they are selling a $50 gift card for $25. This could be a phishing website trying to obtain your credit card information.

How to Protect Yourself

• Be sure to buy a discounted gift card from a seller who can provide you with a money back guarantee.  
• Check the balance of the gift card as soon as you can.

Shopping Online Safely

Online shopping has become a very popular way for consumers to purchase items using home computers, tablets, and smartphones. While this can be very convenient and may save you time and money, there are risks associated with online shopping. Take time to review the following tips on what to do to keep your financial information safe when making online purchases.

Paying for an item online:

• Check for the S in the URL. (https:://www vs. http://) to ensure you are using a secure payment page
• Check for a closed padlock on the payment page before giving payment information
• Click on the closed padlock to ensure the certificate belongs to the company you’re doing business with.
• Always use a secure wifi connection when making online purchases using your laptop, smartphone or tablet. 

Avoid Suspicious Websites:

• Be cautious of the company’s website address. Most legitimate addresses usually end in .com, .net, or .org.  
• Websites that offer no contact information like a phone number or physical address may be a sign of a fraudulent business or organization
• Many bogus sites are created in other countries, where scam artists aren’t as familiar with the English language. Websites that contain a lot of misspellings, or grammatical errors are a good indication you are accessing a fraudulent website.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is the act of sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that may be use for fraud or identity theft. The email directs the user to visit a website where they are asked to update personal information such as: passwords, Credit/Debit Card info, Social Security numbers, and the Credit Union/Bank account numbers that the legitimate organization already has. The website, however, is a spoof and set up only to steal the user’s information.

If you receive an email which you think is phishing stating it’s from DCCU please forward the entire email to abuse@mydccu.com. This will help us shut the site down faster.

Counterfeit Checks

If you can answer yes to any of the following questions involving a CHECK you are about to deposit, please contact us immediately.

• Are the check proceeds for an item you sold on the Internet such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?
• Is the amount of the check more than the selling price of the item?
• Have you been instructed to WIRE funds out of the country as soon as possible?
• Is the check from an individual you have communicated with via email?
• Is the check drawn on a business or individual different from the person buying your item?
• Have you been informed that you were the winner in a lottery that you did not enter?
• Have you been asked to assist in the distribution of money from another country?

Identity Theft

DCCU is dedicated to keeping our members’ information safe and secure. Identity theft can happen to anyone. Identity theft is when someone falsely uses your name and personal information to get a loan, open a Credit Card or attempts to access information from your financial account. To ensure that you do not become a victim of identity theft, follow the simple rules below:

• Do not give out personal information over the phone, email, or text message
• Do not carry your social security card with you
• Place passwords on your accounts for added security
• Shred material that contains any of your personal information
• Do not print your social security number on you checks
• Check your DCCU statements regularly for accuracy
• Use security software on your home computer
• Carry only Credit Cards you use
• Review your credit report regularly. Federal law requires that each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) provide one free credit report per year to individuals upon request

Tips for Traveling with Your Card

Traveling can be a hassle. We want to make it easier for you! Below are some helpful tips for traveling with your DCCU Debit and/or Credit Cards. To avoid inconvenience while traveling, notify us in advance of your plans to prevent unnecessary restrictions being placed on your card(s).

While Traveling

• Be sure you know your PIN so you can access ATMs
• If you have any problems using a DCCU card while out of the country contact our toll free overseas numbers for cardholder services
• Belgium: 0800.11.766
• Canada: 1.800.654.7728
• France: 0800.90.1615
• Germany: 0130810002
• Guam: 800.654.7728
• Italy: 800.897.089
• Japan: 0531.11.1727
• Mexico: 00.1.800.336.7728
• Panama: 00.1.800.111.0038
• Philippines: 1800.1.111.9081
• Spain: 900.99.1164
• United Kingdom: 0.800897330
• MasterCard Collect Number: 314.542.7111
• VISA Collect Number: 410.581.9994
• There are no foreign transaction fees that are passed onto the card at this time
• To report a lost or stolen card contact us immediately at 866.820.5970