Local credit union warns people to be aware of nationwide scam calls

Bear Paw Credit Union is warning people to be aware of a nationwide scam call targeting credit union members asking for credit card numbers.

Members should not give any personal information to these callers Bear Paw Credit Union Vice President of Information Technology Roger Stone said.

“We won’t ask for your credit card number. We have your credit card number,” Stone said. “Your card came from us.”

In a post on the Bear Paw Credit Union Facebook page the credit union says members may be receiving calls from 877-276-3721 with the caller claiming to be from a credit union requesting personal information. This is targeting members of multiple credit unions across the country.

“Though the phone call may sound official, this is a fraudulent attempt to steal members’ card numbers and other personal information,” the post said. “If you receive a call like this, please do not type in your card number or give out any personal information. Members should never respond to unknown calls requesting personal or financial information. Bear Paw Credit Union will never call our members to request this information.”

Stone said that once they found that the fraudulent calls were affecting Montana credit unions Bear Paw immediately made the Facebook post warning members.

“It’s very painful for the member,” he added.

Scams like this are not unique to the United States, he added. People posing as Microsoft tech support workers have operated global scams.

“People need to be very, very aware,” Stone said.

He added that there are many ways scammers can get people’s phone numbers. Stone said these scammers are not posing to be from any specific credit union.

“The more generic, the more they catch,” he said.

“If you don’t 100 percent know who this is, you need to hang up and call your financial institution back,” Stone added. “Don’t call the number they give you back, call your financial institution back.”

“Be aware,” he said.

Information found on the Montana Federal Credit Union website regarding fraud prevention warns of people being contacted online by scammers. It says to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, people should not provide personal information, account numbers, banking or credit card numbers, PINs or log-on IDs through email links, text messages or pop-up windows.  

It says criminals or fraudsters attempt to obtain people’s personal information through a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons.

“Remember to always shred any paperwork or documents that contains your personal identification information such as your name, address, birth date and/or social security number,” it says.