Fraud Prevention
Fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to trick people. Here’s how WEOKIE helps protect you—and what you can do to stay one step ahead.
Think your WEOKIE account has been compromised?
A Member Story
How We're
Protecting You
A WEOKIE member recently avoided losing $50,000 thanks to our Yukon branch team's attention to detail.
Scammers had contacted her, claiming she faced "legal issues" and needed to withdraw a large amount of cash immediately. Our staff recognized the warning signs, asked the right questions, and prevented the fraud before any money changed hands.
Law enforcement was immediately notified. This is exactly the kind of vigilant protection you can count on—our team is trained to spot these schemes and will always put your financial safety first.
Introduction to Common Scams
Common Scams
Protect yourself from the most frequent financial fraud schemes in today's digital world.
Phishing HIGH RISK
Scammers impersonate banks, credit unions, retailers, or government agencies via email, text, or phone to steal personal information.
What to Do:
- Never click links in unsolicited messages
- Verify by calling the organization directly using a known phone number
- Look for spelling errors and generic greetings
- Report phishing by calling 405-235-3030 or 1-800-678-5363 or by emailing email@weokie.org
Identity Theft
Criminals steal your personal information to open accounts, file taxes, or make purchases in your name.
What to Do:
- Freeze your credit with all three bureaus - Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
- File a report at www.IdentityTheft.gov
- Monitor your credit reports weekly
- Set up fraud alerts
Check Fraud
Fraudsters steal, alter, or counterfeit checks to access your funds directly.
What to Do:
- Use online bill pay instead of mailing checks
- Retrieve mail promptly
- Shred cancelled checks
- Review account statements daily
Account Takeover
Hackers gain control of your existing accounts using stolen credentials or social engineering.
What to Do:
- Enable multi-factor authentication
- Use unique passwords for each account
- Monitor login alerts
- Change passwords if you notice suspicious activity
Red Flags
Learn to recognize the warning signs that indicate you might be dealing with a scammer.
Immediate Red Flags
🚨 Stop if you encounter these signs:
- Pressure to act immediately - "This offer expires in 10 minutes!"
- Requests for gift cards - No legitimate business accepts iTunes cards as payment
- Threats of arrest or legal action - Real agencies don't threaten over the phone
- Requests to wire money - Especially to foreign countries
- Promises that seem too good to be true - You didn't win a lottery you didn't enter
Communication Red Flags
Suspicious Contact Methods
- Unexpected calls claiming to be from your bank or credit union
- Emails from addresses that don't match the company domain
- Text messages with shortened URLs
- Social media messages asking for personal information
Language and Grammar Issues
- Poor spelling and grammar
- Awkward phrasing or word choices
- Generic greetings like "Dear Customer"
- Threatening or urgent language
Payment Red Flags
Suspicious Payment Requests
Scammers often request payment through methods that are hard to trace or recover:
Never pay with:
- Gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon)
- Wire transfers
- Cryptocurrency
- Cash reload cards
- Payment apps to strangers
Remember: If someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for money or information, pause and verify independently.
Technology Scams
Stay safe from digital threats and tech support fraud in our connected world.
Common Tech Scams
Tech Support Scams HIGH RISK
Fake pop-ups or calls claiming your computer is infected, offering to "fix" problems for a fee.
What to Do:
- Never call numbers from pop-up warnings
- Don't give remote access to unknown callers
- Contact tech support through official channels only
- Use legitimate antivirus software
Social Media Scams
Fake profiles, compromised accounts, and malicious links spread through social platforms.
What to Do:
- Verify friend requests from unknown people
- Don't click suspicious links, even from friends
- Check privacy settings regularly
- Report and block suspicious accounts
Online Shopping Fraud
Fake websites, non-delivery scams, and counterfeit goods targeting online shoppers.
What to Do:
- Shop only on secure websites (https://)
- Research unfamiliar retailers
- Use credit cards for better protection
- Save receipts and confirmation emails
Protecting Your Devices
Essential Security Measures
- Keep software updated: Enable automatic updates for your operating system and apps
- Use strong passwords: Minimum 12 characters with mixed case, numbers, and symbols
- Enable two-factor authentication: Add an extra layer of security to important accounts
- Regular backups: Protect your data from ransomware and hardware failure
- Secure your Wi-Fi: Use WPA3 encryption and change default passwords
Pro Tip: Use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for each account.
Charity & Romance Scams
Protect your heart and your wallet from scammers who exploit emotions and generosity.
Romance Scams
Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media to establish emotional connections before asking for money. In 2023, Americans lost over $1.3 billion to romance scams.
How Romance Scams Work
- Initial Contact: Attractive profile reaches out with flattering messages
- Quick Escalation: Professes love unusually quickly
- Excuses: Can't meet due to military deployment, working overseas, etc.
- The Ask: Needs money for emergency, travel, medical bills, or investment
Red Flags:
- Won't video chat or meet in person
- Photos look too professional or inconsistent
- Asks you to move communication off the dating platform
- Stories don't add up or change over time
- Requests money, gift cards, or bank account information
Charity Fraud
Fake Charity Scams
Scammers exploit generosity, especially after natural disasters or during holidays, by impersonating legitimate charities or creating fake ones.
Before You Donate:
- Research at www.CharityNavigator.org or www.Give.org
- Ask how much goes directly to the cause
- Don't give cash - use check or credit card
- Be wary of high-pressure tactics
- Verify tax-deductible status if important to you
Safe Donation Tips
- Donate directly through the charity's official website
- Be suspicious of charities that spring up after disasters
- Don't click links in unsolicited charity emails
- Research the charity's rating and financial transparency
- Keep records of all charitable donations
Quick Tip: Before donating, search for the charity name plus "scam" or "complaint" to see if others have reported issues.
Prevention & Monitoring
Fraudsters will go to extraordinary lengths to gain your personal information. Here are some practical ways to keep your financial information, including credit and debit card numbers, safe.
8 Essential Prevention Strategies
1. Monitor Your Accounts Regularly
Review your bank and credit card activity often—especially through your mobile app. Set up real-time Notifi Alerts to get notified of large or unusual transactions, and use Card Controls to instantly lock or unlock your debit card, set spending limits, and more—all within WEOKIE Online and Mobile Banking.
Quick Tip: Set up Notifi Alerts in Online Banking so you'll know instantly about unusual activity.
2. Set Up Fraud Alerts with Credit Bureaus
All three big credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) allow you to set up fraud alerts that require lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before running credit checks.
3. Lock or Freeze Your Credit
Lock your credit when not applying for new loans. You can do this online at no cost with all three major credit bureaus. A credit lock makes it harder for scammers to open accounts in your name.
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
4. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Enable MFA on banking apps and other sensitive online accounts, including email. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code in addition to your password.
5. Don't Send Sensitive Information Over Text or Email
Never send Social Security numbers, passwords, or payment details via unsecured messages. If someone asks for this information, confirm by calling them using a verified number.
6. Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Financial Transactions
Public networks are often unsecured. Don't log in to banking or payment apps while on public Wi-Fi. If you must, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
7. Use Credit, Not Debit, for Online Purchases
While purchasing with a credit or debit card may seem similar, credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards. If anything goes wrong, you have more ways to recover your funds.
8. Shred Documents and Secure Devices
Shred mail containing personal info, and lock your phone and computer with a passcode. Install antivirus software and keep operating systems updated to prevent malware. Take advantage of free document shredding offered by WEOKIE.
Credit Monitoring
Monitoring your credit is one of the best ways to detect fraud early. Explore free tools and WEOKIE resources to stay informed and proactive.
You're entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—once every 12 months. Reviewing your reports regularly can help you spot inaccurate or suspicious accounts, detect signs of identity theft, and monitor progress if you're rebuilding credit.
Get your reports at www.AnnualCreditReport.com, the only federally authorized site for free credit reports, operated in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission.
WEOKIE members also have access to free credit score monitoring through Online and Mobile Banking. This feature allows you to view your current credit score anytime, receive alerts for changes, and see what factors are affecting your score.
Learn more at www.weokie.org/creditscore
Response & Recovery
Understanding how to respond when fraud occurs and knowing the differences in protection can help you minimize damage and recover more quickly.
Debit vs. Credit Card Fraud
Understand the key differences in protection and recovery between debit and credit card fraud.
Both debit and credit card fraud occur when someone obtains unauthorized access to your account numbers. However, when someone gets hold of your debit card number, they are able to access the funds in your bank account directly and can quickly drain your account. It can be difficult to recover funds that are withdrawn in this way.
Credit card fraud involves unauthorized charges on the credit line extended by your card issuer. This allows you to dispute fraudulent charges before paying them. While serious misuse of your credit card may affect your credit score, credit cards offer better protection against fraudulent charges because your personal funds are not directly affected.
Debit Card Fraud Protection
If you suspect fraudulent activity, contact WEOKIE immediately at (405) 235-3030 or 1-855-604-1631 to report the issue and freeze your card.
You can also use Card Controls in the WEOKIE Mobile App to instantly lock your card and help prevent further transactions. The sooner you act, the better your chances of limiting losses. WEOKIE will replace your card and may issue a temporary credit while they investigate.
Quick Tip: Update your contact information with WEOKIE so we can reach you immediately if we detect suspicious activity.
Credit Card Fraud Protection
For credit card fraud, call your credit card issuer right away to dispute the charge. Most card issuers will not hold you liable for fraudulent charges provided you report them promptly.
In both cases, update your online account passwords, monitor your credit report and bank or card statements closely, and set up transaction alerts to catch any further suspicious activity. Make sure your bank or card issuer has your up-to-date contact information.
Fraud Alerts vs. Credit Locks
Fraud alerts and credit locks offer different protections. Learn how each works and how to use them effectively.
| Feature | Fraud Alert | Credit Lock |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Requires lenders to take extra steps to verify identity | Blocks access to credit report entirely |
| Duration | 1 year | Until you unlock it |
| Notification | All three bureaus notified automatically | Must contact each bureau separately |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Best for | Active fraud concern | Not applying for credit |
When you ask a credit bureau to place a fraud alert on your account, it is required by federal law to notify the other two bureaus. While you can lock and unlock your credit instantly by contacting a credit bureau, you generally need to contact all three of the bureaus separately.
Security is a team effort
While we work around the clock to protect your accounts, your vigilance is equally crucial. Even the best security can be undermined by a convincing scam call or email. Stay alert to red flags, question unexpected requests, and trust your instincts. When you know what to watch for and we provide the tools to protect you, criminals don't stand a chance.
WEOKIE will never call asking for:
Passwords or PINs
Debit & Account Numbers
Social Security Numbers
Online Banking Credentials
One-Time Passcodes
Security Question Answers