Your Financial Safety Guide

Sterling Nielsen
President/CEO

April is Financial Literacy Month, and at Mountain America, we are here to support you in all aspects of financial guidance. One important aspect of financial literacy is fraud prevention.

In our modern world, financial scams and fraud are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and occurrences of fraud are rapidly increasing. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost between $12.5 and $16.6 billion to fraud and cybercrimes in 2024. In addition to offering advanced fraud detection and security biometrics on your accounts, we believe the best prevention we can provide our members is knowledge and in-depth financial guidance.

During Financial Literacy Month, take a moment to review your understanding of common fraud attempts and scams that could cost you time and money.

Common fraud risks

• Phishing

  Fraudsters will send emails or text messages, or even make phone calls, designed to trick you into clicking links or revealing sensitive personal information like your password, account number or Social Security number. These attacks can look surprisingly legitimate—mimicking the branding of an organization or a familiar retailer.

  A sense of urgency is a big tipoff—phrases like “Your account has been suspended” or “Act now to avoid a penalty” are designed to make you panic and act without thinking. When in doubt, don’t click any links. Go directly to Mountain America’s website or call our service center to verify the legitimacy of the request

• Impersonations

  In impersonation scams, fraudsters pose as trusted authorities—such as IRS agents, Social Security Administration representatives or your credit union—to pressure you into sending money or sharing personal information. They may claim you owe back taxes, that your benefits are at risk or that there’s been suspicious activity on your account.

  Even if the phone number they are calling from looks real, the request may be fraudulent. Legitimate organizations will never demand immediate payment or threaten arrest over the phone. Some fraudsters are sophisticated enough to spoof real phone numbers.

Protect yourself

Avoid identity theft or fraud risk by checking your accounts regularly for unfamiliar activity. Set up customized text and email alerts based on balances, payments or other transactions.

Remember, Mountain America will never call, text or email you asking you for:

• Your account number or code word.
• Our routing number.
• Credit or debit card PINs.
• Digital banking usernames or passwords.
• Full Social Security numbers.
• The CVV code on the back of your credit or debit card.
• One-time verification codes.

Please note, we may ask for some of this information if you contact us.

When in doubt, reach out

If you are unsure about a message you receive, or if you suspect you have been scammed, contact Mountain America right away. We have the financial professionals and tools to help you navigate the situation.

At Mountain America, we believe an educated member is an empowered member. This Financial Literacy Month, take advantage of the support and resources we have to offer. If you have additional questions or would like more information specific to your situation, visit your nearest branch for personalized support.

I would also encourage you to share this information with the people you love. The more we look out for one another, the safer we all are.

Thank you for trusting Mountain America Credit Union as your financial partner. Together, we’ll keep guiding you forward to a future that is secure, reliable and informed.

Sincerely,
Sterling Nielsen

SEE OUR FRAUD PREVENTION RESOURCES