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Not even a week since Veterans day, Veterans are being targeted by scammers posing as banks that Veterans are commonly members of, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Scammers pose as representatives from USAA Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, and other banks. The scammers ask for personal information including their social security number, bank account, or credit card number or debit card number.
They continue by informing the potential victim that their debit card has been blocked, “detected” fraudulent activity, or a different kind of urgent excuse requiring quick action.
Not only phone calls though have been reported. The FTC says texts have also been found with suspicious links attached too. Clicking on the link could lead to the scammers to install malware on your device that will give them complete access to your personal information.
The FTC urges residents to never respond to these calls or texts and never to call back. To protect yourself from these scams, never give out personal information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Remember, financial institutions never ask for personal information or passcodes. If you believe it could be legitimate, contact your bank directly through a website or phone number you know is real.
You can also report a suspected scam by clicking HERE. Military Consumers also provide more resources for veterans to stay safe against scams.
