Fraud Prevention & Scam Alert

No. Beacon will never call you to request confidential card information or ask you to authorize card activity through the Card Management feature in online banking or our mobile app.

If you receive a call like this, hang up and call us directly using the number on the back of your card.

What should I do if I receive a suspicious call or message claiming to be from Beacon Federal Credit Union?

• Scammers may pretend to be Beacon team members, calling from unknown numbers or spoofing our official number, 281.471.1782, to make the call appear legitimate.
• Do not share sensitive information, including your online banking username, password, or verification codes. Beacon will never ask you to provide your login credentials.
• Hang up or delete the message. If you’re unsure whether a call or message is legitimate, call us directly at 281.471.1782.

Is Beacon Federal Credit Union under federal investigation?

No. If someone claims Beacon Federal Credit Union is under investigation and tells you to withdraw or transfer your money to a “federal,” “government,” or “secure” account, it is a scam.

Will Beacon ask me to transfer money to protect my account?

No. Beacon FCU will never ask you to transfer or withdraw money to keep it safe. We will not create a special account for you with a government agency or another financial institution.

Will a government agency ask me to move my money?

Legitimate government agencies will not call and instruct you to withdraw cash or transfer money to a special account for safekeeping. They will not demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps.

Can scammers make a call or text appear to be from Beacon?

Yes. Scammers can “spoof” a phone number so the call appears to come from Beacon or another trusted organization. Do not rely only on caller ID. Hang up and call Beacon directly using the number on our official website, your statement, or the back of your card.

Will Beacon ask for my password, PIN, or verification code?

Beacon will never call, text, or email you to request your complete password, PIN, or one-time verification code. Never share these details with anyone.

What should I do if a caller pressures me to act immediately?

Stop and take a moment. Do not allow the caller to rush or frighten you. Hang up and contact Beacon directly. A legitimate organization will allow you time to verify the request.

What should I do if I receive a suspicious text or email?

Do not reply, click a link, open an attachment, or call a number included in the message. Contact Beacon through a trusted phone number or official communication channel.

What if someone asks me to withdraw cash?

Do not withdraw the money. Scammers may tell you not to speak with Beacon employees or may provide a false explanation for the withdrawal. This is a serious warning sign. Tell a Beacon team member what is happening so we can help you.

What if someone tells me to lie to a Beacon employee?

Stop the transaction immediately. A legitimate person or organization will never instruct you to hide information or lie to your financial institution. Scammers do this because they know our team may recognize the fraud.

Are gift card, cryptocurrency, and wire-transfer requests suspicious?

Yes. Be extremely cautious when someone demands payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, or payment apps. These payments can be difficult or impossible to recover.

What is a “safe account” scam?

In a safe account scam, someone claims your money or account is at risk and tells you to transfer your funds to another account for protection. There is no special “safe,” “secure,” or “federal” account. Once you transfer the money, the scammer may take it.

What should I do if I already shared information or sent money?

Contact Beacon Federal Credit Union immediately. Change any compromised passwords and continue monitoring your accounts. Acting quickly may help us protect your account or determine whether a transaction can be stopped. You should also report the scam to the appropriate law enforcement or government agency.

How can I protect myself from scams?

Remember these important steps:

• Stop when someone creates a sense of urgency or fear.

• Never share your password, PIN, or verification code.

• Do not move money in response to an unexpected call, text, or email.

• Never lie to Beacon about the reason for a transaction.

• Verify the request using a trusted phone number.

• Talk to a Beacon employee or a trusted person before sending money.

• Contact us if something does not feel right. 

What should I remember most?

Stop. Hang up. Verify. Contact Beacon directly before withdrawing or transferring money. We are here to help and are always Looking Out for You!

Scammers can use information shared on social media to steal your identity, guess passwords, answer security questions, or create scams that appear personal and believable. Protect yourself by avoiding the following:

• Personal information: Do not post your full birthdate, home address, phone number, email address, Social Security number, or other identifying details.
• Financial information: Never share pictures of debit or credit cards, checks, account statements, payment confirmations, or banking details.
• Passwords and security answers: Avoid sharing details such as your mother’s maiden name, first car, first school, childhood nickname, or pet’s name—these are often used as security questions.
• Travel plans: Wait until you return home to share vacation pictures; posting your location and travel dates may let others know your home is unattended.
• Real-time locations: Turn off location tagging and avoid checking in at your home, workplace, school, or other places you visit regularly.

• Workplace information: Be cautious about sharing employee badges, computer screens, office documents, schedules, or confidential company information.

• Children’s information: Avoid posting your child’s full name, birthday, school, teacher, daily schedule, or sports location.

• Major purchases and money: Be careful when sharing expensive purchases, large payments, inheritances, settlements, or financial challenges, because scammers may use this information to target you.

• Photos with sensitive details: Look closely at the background before posting; mail, documents, license plates, house numbers, tickets, and computer screens may reveal private information.

• Online quizzes and trends: Avoid quizzes asking for personal details such as your birth month, favorite teacher, first car, or childhood street—these answers may help scammers access your accounts.

• Review your privacy settings regularly, limit who can see your posts, and only accept connection requests from people you know. When in doubt, pause before you post—protecting your information is one more way to protect your financial well-being.

A strong password is your first line of defense, and multifactor authentication adds another important layer of protection. Use both whenever they are available.

• Create long, unique passwords: Use at least 12–16 characters and combine several unrelated words; avoid names, birthdays, addresses, or information others can easily find.
• Use a different password for every account: Reusing passwords can allow criminals to access multiple accounts if a single password is stolen.
• Consider using a trusted password manager: A password manager can create, securely store, and organize strong passwords so you do not have to remember each one.
• Turn on multifactor authentication: MFA requires a second form of verification, such as an authenticator app, security key, fingerprint, or one-time code, making it harder for scammers to access your account even if they obtain your password.
• The use of your personal information can have a serious impact on your personal and financial life.

• Never share verification codes: Beacon Federal Credit Union will never contact you unexpectedly to request your password, PIN, or one-time security code. If you receive a code you did not request, do not approve the login; contact the organization directly.

Learn how to recognize common imposter scams and protect your personal information and hard-earned money.

• Jury Duty Scam: Scammers may claim you missed jury duty and threaten arrest unless you pay immediately; hang up, do not send money or share personal information, and contact your local court using its official phone number.
• Fake FBI Scam: Scammers may impersonate FBI agents, threaten arrest, or claim your money is at risk; do not withdraw or transfer funds, and contact the FBI directly through its official website or phone number.
• Fake Beacon Phone Call: Scammers may make a call appear to be from Beacon Federal Credit Union and request account information, a verification code, or a money transfer. Hang up and call Beacon directly using the number on the back of your card or our official website.
• Romance Scam: Scammers may build an online relationship and then ask for money because of an emergency, travel problem, investment opportunity, or other urgent need; never send money or share financial information with someone you have not met and independently verified.
• Verification Code Scam: A scammer asks for a one-time security code to “verify” or “protect” your account; never share a verification code or approve a login you did not initiate.
• Fake Text Message Scam: A text may claim there is suspicious activity, an unpaid toll, a delivery problem, or another urgent issue; do not click the link and contact the organization through its official website or phone number.
• QR Code Scam: Criminals may place fake QR codes over legitimate ones at parking meters, restaurants, or public locations to steal payment or personal information; inspect the code and verify the website before entering any information.
• Family Emergency or AI Voice Scam: A caller may imitate a loved one’s voice and claim to need money immediately; hang up and contact your family member using a trusted number.
• Tax or IRS Scam: Scammers may impersonate the IRS through calls, texts, emails, or fake websites and threaten you or promise a large refund; do not respond and verify all communication directly through IRS.gov
• Gift Card, Wire Transfer, and Payment-App Scam: Anyone demanding payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps should be treated with suspicion, as these payments are difficult to recover.