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Fraud Prevention Center

Stay a Step Ahead of Scammers and Fraud

MACU Scam Squashers

 

Keep an EAR out for anything suspicious.

 

Benny the Buffalo, proud member of the MACU Scam Squasher Squad, is on a mission to help you stay alert, stay informed, and stay protected. Benny's here to remind you to keep an EAR out for anything suspicious - because scammers are always looking for an opportunity. 

Educate yourself on common scams.

Avoid things that cannot be verified or seems too good - or too bad - to be true.

Report anything that causes uncertainty, concern, or doubt to a trusted individual. 

 

 What To Do Instead:

 

  • When in Doubt, Don't Give it Out!
  • Call a number you know is real for that company or person.
  • Talk it over with someone you trust.
  • Contact MACU right away if you suspect your account is compromised.

Elder financial abuse: Know the signs before it's too late

 

Imagine spending a lifetime building your savings, only to have someone you trust take advantage of you. For millions of older adults, this is a very real threat.

Elder financial abuse is one of the fastest-growing forms of elder mistreatment, often leaving victims with devastating financial losses and lasting emotional consequences. While an estimated one in 10 older adults experiences reported financial abuse, experts believe many more cases go unreported because victims feel embarrassed, fearful or unsure where to seek help.

What makes financial exploitation especially troubling is that it often comes at the hands of someone the victim knows and trusts—a family member, caregiver, friend or even a trusted advisor. Recognizing the warning signs early can help prevent further harm and protect vulnerable loved ones.

What is elder financial abuse?
Elder financial abuse occurs when someone illegally or improperly uses an older adult's money, property or assets for personal gain. This may include theft, fraud, scams, forgery, coercion, or misuse of authority through a power of attorney.

Warning signs you shouldn't ignore
Being aware of potential red flags can help you spot abuse before significant damage occurs.

Unusual financial activity
• Sudden or unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
• Large transfers to unfamiliar individuals or accounts
• Missing money, valuables or personal belongings
• Unexpected changes to banking arrangements or new joint accounts

Behavioral changes
• Increased anxiety, confusion or fear when discussing finances
• Hesitation to speak openly, especially in the presence of a particular person
• Sudden shifts in spending habits or financial decision-making

Changes to important documents
• Unexpected revisions to wills, trusts or power of attorney documents
• Signatures that appear inconsistent with the older adult's handwriting
• New individuals assuming control over financial decisions

Unpaid bills or unmet needs
• Bills going unpaid despite adequate financial resources
• Utility shutoff notices or overdue payment warnings
• Lack of food, medication or other necessities

Potential exploitation by others
• A new friend, caregiver or relative showing unusual interest in finances
• Someone isolating the older adult from family members or trusted contacts
• An individual speaking on the older adult's behalf or discouraging independent decisions

What you can do
• Start a conversation. Approach the situation with empathy, respect, and concern.
• Document your concerns. Keep records of suspicious transactions or changes in behavior.
• Report it. Contact Adult Protective Services, local law enforcement, or a trusted financial institution. Mid American members can contact a member service representative at 316-722-3921, extension 202.
• Encourage safeguards. Consider account alerts, automatic bill payments, trusted contacts, and regular account reviews.

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Has Someone Stolen Your Identity?

How to reduce your risk of identity theft and take action if you're a victim.

 

Are you getting bills for things you didn't buy or phone calls from debt collectors for payments on accounts you didn't know about?

You’ve likely been the victim of identity theft, where someone has stolen and is using your personal or financial information.

Other warning signs include seeing suspicious activity on your financial accounts or credit reports that you didn’t authorize, getting credit denial letters, and realizing some of your regular mail isn’t being delivered anymore.

In 2024, more than 1 million identity theft cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission, with the most common being credit card fraud. Opening new credit accounts has become the MO of most thieves because data breaches have made your information available.

Check back for fresh tips, tools, and scam squashing insights!

 

Welcome to the

MACU Scam Squashers Squad! 












 

Common Fraud Risks Examples: Scams and How to Protect Your Family’s Finances

 

What Would You Like to Learn About Fraud Today? 

Scams are evolving—from phishing emails to AI-generated voice calls designed to sound like someone you trust. 

Understanding the warning signs can help protect your money and personal information. Here are common scams to watch for and simple ways to avoid them. 

  • Phishing emails/texts – Fake messages that look real, asking you to click links or share personal info.
  • AI & Phone scams – Callers pretending to be from MACU, the IRS, tech support, law enforcement, or collection for bills you don't owe.
  • Imposter scams – Scammers posing as family, friends, or coworkers in trouble. Scammers pretending to be trusted professionals or companies.
  • Romance scams – Fraudsters build fake relationships online to trick people out of money.
  • Prize & lottery scams – “You’ve won!” (but you need to pay fees first).

How to Avoid Them: Pause. Verify. Never share passwords or one-time codes.
 
Staying informed is one of the best ways to stay protected! 
  • Pressure to act right now (urgency is their weapon).
  • Requests for personal info, PINs, or passwords.
  • Payment demands through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
  • Messages filled with poor grammar, odd wording, or suspicious links.
  • “Too good to be true” offers that don’t add up.
  • Never share online banking credentials or account numbers.
  • Use strong, unique passwords and update them regularly.
  • Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.
  • Shred documents with sensitive information.
  • Be cautious about what you share on social media.
  • Stop communicating immediately with the scammer.
  • Do not send money, gift cards, or personal details.
  • Contact MACU right away at 316-722-3921 if you suspect your account is compromised or you have given out account or card information. 
  • Report suspicious emails/texts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to IC3.gov. 
  • When in doubt, don't give it out! Scammers are trying to get your money and personal information, so stop if the situation seems odd or too good or bad to be true.  Talk it over with someone you trust. 
  • Call a number you know is real for the company or person calling you.  
  • Check out out Identity Fraud, Inc.: 24/7 Toll-Free Access to Dedicated Case Specialists.  Identity Theft Protection
  • Use two-factor authentication for online banking login and other logins, when available.
  • Seek educational resources, tips, and ideas for how to get ahead of the Fraud game.

No one wants to be the victim of fraud, and financial fraudsters will exploit that very fear to carry out their scams.

 

One of the top ways in which they try to gain access to your financial accounts is by posing as your financial institution to trick you into providing personal information. With an account takeover scam, once they’re in, you’re locked out.

 

How does it happen

It usually starts with a fake text or email claiming to be from MidAmerican Credit Union or another financial institution, with a warning about a suspicious transaction. For example, it might ask: “Did you authorize a payment in the amount of $500?” and ask you to either click on a link or send a reply.

 

To carry the ruse even further, they’ll call you directly, pretending to handle the unauthorized activity. They’ll ask you for additional personal information so they can complete the account takeover, such as asking for your login credentials or security code and asking you to verify your account information.

 

How to stay safe

It can be hard to ignore a text, email or call warning you about suspicious account activity, but that’s the first step.

 

Don’t take the actions requested in suspicious messages. Don’t click on links, don’t reply to text messages and don’t call the numbers listed. Legitimate, trusted financial institutions like Mid American Credit Union will never ask you to provide personal or financial information via texts, emails or even phone calls.

 

Here’s what else you can do to stop an account takeover:

  • Contact MACU’s Member Contact Center right away at 316-722-3921 if you suspect your account is compromised or you have given out account or card information. 
  • Report suspicious messages to the Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov) and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov)
  • When in doubt, don't give it out.
  • Regularly review your account transactions and utilize features like notifications and Card Manager through your Mid American account dashboard.

DO's: 

1. Take it slowly. Ask a lot of questions and watch for inconsistencies. 

2. Check Photos. See if their photos are stolen and show up elsewhere with different names attached. 

3. Report it. If you come across a scammer, notify the dating site on which you met them.

 

DONT's: 

1. Feel swindled. Scammers flood dating sites with fake profiles waiting for victims.

2. Share details. Scammers can exploit personal details to manipulate victims or commit identity theft.  

3. Send money. DO NOT send or receive money from anyone no matter how convincing their story is.

 

 

SIGNS OF A ROMANCE SCAM:

1. Suspicious Profile. Profiles have missing details.

2. Love Bombing. The romance scammer will be quick to profess their love. 

3. Asking for Money. Are skilled in making up believable stories. 

4. Changing Platforms. Providing email addresses or phone numbers to a scammer is dangerous.

5. Canceling Plans. Will often times make promises to meet in person but excuse themselves for an emergency.

 

 

RED FLAGS:

 

  • Model like pictures.
  • Moving too fast.
  • Eager to leave dating website.
  • Lavishes victim with attention.
  • False promises.

Tax season is often the prime time for fraudsters or scammers to steal your identity and even your refund.

 

Here are two common cons.

 

1. IRS impersonators. Typically, the IRS will contact taxpayers by mail through the U.S. Postal Service. It will only email or text you if you’ve previously provided permission, so be wary of links, particularly if they are unsolicited or have misspellings. 

 

The IRS does not make automated or direct phone calls to threaten you with law enforcement or pressure you to provide financial or other personal information. It also does not take payments through social media, gift cards or prepaid debit cards.

 

2. Posing as preparers. Some warning signs include someone who says they will collect your refund and pass it on to you or who asks you to provide any owed taxes in cash. The IRS requires anyone who prepares federal tax returns for a fee to have a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) that must also appear on your return. Volunteer preparers don’t need PTINs. The IRS provides a searchable directory at irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf that includes anyone with a PTIN who holds a professional credential or has filed an IRS form of qualifications.