Be Alert for Virus-Related Scams

Whether it’s a charity asking for a donation or a promise of more stimulus money, be aware of the scams surrounding Coronavirus.

• The FTC and its chairperson are not calling, texting, or emailing about Coronavirus money.
• Scammers are using websites that look like a government unemployment site to get personal information.
  • Start an application for unemployment benefits only at careeronestop.org and search for local unemployment benefits.
  • Do not respond to calls or messages about unemployment benefits. Instead, contact the State Workforce Agency directly at dol.gov and search for state workforce agencies.
• The government will never:
  • Ask you to pay to receive stimulus-related money.
  • Call, text, or email and ask for your Social Security, account, or credit card number.
• Fraudulent charities include legitimate logos and words in their names. Stay clear of charities that:
  • Ask for payment by money order or cash.
  • Send an invoice or bill for a pledge you never made.
  • Require your donation immediately.
• Fraudulent emails appear to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), but they link to harmful websites.
• CEFCU will never call or send you a message asking for personal or account information.

Check out the steps CEFCU is taking to protect you at Disaster Preparedness. And remember, if you’ve been financially impacted by COVID-19, we’re here to help.