Protect yourself from being scammed over the phone

Protecting your financial information is a vital part of digital banking, as the looming threat of hacks is only getting worse. Scammers are always coming up with new ways to try to steal your personal information.

Recently, members have been receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from Texas Tech Credit Union. Please know we will never ask you for financial or personal information via text and Texas Tech Credit Union 's text alerts do not contain any links.

Don't be the next victim of a phone scam—know what to look for and how to protect yourself.

How the scam works:

In most cases, you might receive a phone call or a text from what appears to be your financial institution alerting you of fraudulent activity, a hold, or updates to your financial account. The scammers are often trying to trick you into thinking that they are the financial institution, so you will give them your personal information or call them. Do not fall for this.

Here's what you need to know to avoid being scammed:

1. Don't respond to unknown phone numbers.

Be suspicious of any unsolicited calls or text messages from unknown numbers. If you don't recognize the number, don't answer. Texas Tech Credit Union will only send you automated text messages from 833-799-1504 and 833-473-1291.

2. Don’t give out personal information.

 Don't give out any personal information unless you are confident that you know who you're talking to.

3. Verify with a reliable source.

If you're not sure whether or not the caller or texter is legitimate, hang up and call the customer service number for your financial institution. Locate your financial institution's phone number on your monthly bank statements or online to ensure you're calling your bank and not a scammer. Do not use the number the caller or texter provides, as it could be fake.

4. Do not click on any links.

Never click on any links in a text message or email from an unknown sender. These could be fake login pages set up by scammers in order to steal your personal information.

Always trust your gut—if something feels off, it probably is. Call Texas Tech Credit Union directly at 806-742-3606 to report the call or text if you think you may have been targeted by a scammer.

Check out our 5 ways to protect your financial information blog post to learn more ways to protect yourself from scammers.