In a recent incident, a Texas Trust Credit Union employee received a scam call from fraudsters posing as representatives of the credit union. The employee, aware of the ongoing scam attempts, recorded the interaction to help expose the methods used by these criminals. This recording will be shared alongside this article to raise awareness and protect members from falling victim to similar schemes.

How the Scam Unfolded

The fraudulent call began with the scammer introducing themselves as "Calvin Stone" and providing a fake ID number, "873210," to appear credible. The caller ID on the employee's phone even displayed "Texas Trust Credit Union," a tactic achieved through caller ID spoofing. The scammer claimed there were fraudulent charges on the employee’s account and offered to resolve them after “authentication.”

The scammer explained their process: "The way this works basically is I'll go ahead and send you over the link that asks you for some credentials. It'll take you directly to the Texas Trust website. Once you verify those credentials, then it'll verify on my end and I can go ahead and get the charges cleared up."

Shortly after, the employee received a text message with a link to a fake login page mimicking Texas Trust’s website. The scammer urged them to input their username and password to "authenticate" their identity. However, the employee, aware of the deception, played along without providing real credentials.

Text Message Examples

The scammers also used text messages to reinforce their scheme. Examples include:

• "Texas Trust CU® We will be suspending your online banking username. Please respond with your username to suspend secured information."
• "Texas Trust CU® Did you use your card at 'BESTBUY,' Miami, FL? $198.34, Declined, 03/09? If you recognize this activity, reply YES. If not reply NO."

These messages are designed to create urgency and trick recipients into providing sensitive information.

How Scammers Exploit Your Information

Once scammers obtain login credentials, they can access accounts and set up external transfers to withdraw funds. Their tactics are sophisticated and often involve creating fake websites that look identical to legitimate ones.

Steps Texas Trust is Taking to Protect Members

Our team has placed safeguards to prevent extraneous and unplanned external transfers from leaving member's accounts. This help prevent fraudsters from trasnfering money away from member's accounts.

Protect Yourself from Phone Scams

To avoid being scammed, follow these precautions:

1. Verify Caller Identity: Hang up and call back using Texas Trust’s official number if you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from them.
2. Avoid Clicking Links in Texts: Never click on links sent via text messages unless you are absolutely certain they are legitimate.
3. Do Not Share Credentials: Texas Trust will never ask for your username or password over text or phone.
4. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security by enabling multi-factor authentication on your accounts.
5. Be Skeptical of Urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly—take your time to verify any claims.

What To Do If You Suspect Fraud

If you believe you've been targeted or scammed:

• Contact Texas Trust immediately through official channels. Call Texas Trust Credit Union
• Change your online banking passwords.
• Monitor your accounts for unauthorized transactions.
• Report the incident to law enforcement and file a complaint with the FTC.

This incident highlights the importance of staying vigilant against scams targeting financial institutions like Texas Trust Credit Union. By sharing this story and accompanying video, we hope members will recognize these tactics and protect themselves from falling victim.