Protect Yourself from ID Theft

Protect Your Identity: Stay One Step Ahead of Scammers

Identity theft and fraud aren’t new, but scammers are constantly finding new ways to make their schemes look more convincing. From realistic text messages to AI-generated voices, today’s scams can be surprisingly difficult to spot.

In fact, consumers reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Nearly one in three fraud reports involved an imposter scam.

Fraud Trends to Watch

Some of today’s most common scams involve criminals pretending to be someone you trust. Be especially cautious of:

• Fake bank fraud alerts. You may receive a call or text claiming there’s suspicious activity on your account and telling you to move money to “protect” it.
• Toll and government impersonation scams. Fake texts about unpaid tolls and other urgent government-related payments have become increasingly common.
• AI-powered scams. Criminals are using AI-generated videos and voice cloning to make impersonation schemes more believable.
• Phishing and spoofed websites. Fake emails, texts, ads and websites may look legitimate but are designed to steal passwords and personal or financial information. Phishing and spoofing remained the most-reported cybercrime category to the FBI’s IC3 in 2025.
• Social media scams. Nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam in 2025 said it started on social media.

Simple Ways to Protect Yourself

Slow down before responding to an unexpected message, especially if someone is creating a sense of urgency. Never provide passwords, PINs, verification codes or other sensitive information to an unexpected caller or message sender. Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.

Most importantly, verify before you trust. If someone contacts you claiming to be from your financial institution, a government agency or another organization, don’t rely on the phone number or link they provide. Contact the organization directly using information you already know is legitimate.

Regularly reviewing your financial accounts can also help you catch unauthorized transactions quickly.

When in Doubt, Reach Out

Scammers count on people reacting quickly. Taking a few extra minutes to stop, think and verify can make a big difference.

If something doesn’t look or feel right—or if you have questions or concerns about possible fraud—reach out to Treadwell Credit Union. We’re here to help you protect your accounts, your identity and your financial future. That’s what being your Partner on the Road Forward is all about.