TOPEKA, Kan.–Two fraud-fighting initiatives have been announced by credit unions.
The Kansas Credit Union Association has introduced a “Fight the Fraud” campaign in which Envista Credit Union and Azura Credit Union said they are participating. The effort aims to help Kansans understand and recognize scams, and in turn prevent fraud through education, real-world examples, and steps Kansans can take to protect themselves.
Ron Smeltzer, president and CEO of Envista Credit Union, said in a statement the initiative will help by “collaboratively providing resources behind education.”
“One of the things you find about fraud is that it is constantly changing and the various forms of fraud are challenging to keep up with, and all these people have to do is create a sense of urgency, create a little panic in you, make you think you have to respond to something immediately,” said Smeltzer. “That opens the door for the fraudsters to take significant advantage of you.“
VyStar Launches Initiative
Separately, in Florida, VyStar Credit Union has launched its “When in Doubt, Just Reach Out.” fraud-prevention campaign during International Fraud Awareness Week.
According to VyStar, the message is simple, direct and action-oriented: If something doesn’t feel right whether it’s a phone call, text message, email, online seller or payment request, members should question the situation and protect themselves by reaching out.
“At VyStar, fraud prevention is something we do with our members,” EVP and COO Chad Meadows said in a statement “This campaign is built around partnership. We monitor accounts, invest in advanced fraud-prevention tools and provide education, while members play a critical role in staying alert and reaching out when something doesn’t feel right. ‘When in doubt, just reach out.’ isn’t just a tagline, it’s a call to action. If you’re ever usure, we are here.”
Members Can Take a Test
VyStar said members can test their knowledge by taking the Fraud Fighter Quiz as well as visit VyStar’s Fraud Protection Hub for tips, common scam red flags, reporting steps and best practices for keeping their account secure, as well as hear the most recent VyCast episode focused on the latest scams and how to identify them.
