Articles

Stay One Step Ahead:
New Identity Scams You Need to Know About

Identity theft and personal information scams are evolving just as quickly as legitimate technology. At NW Plus Credit Union, your security is our priority—and that means helping you stay informed about the latest tactics used by fraudsters. We offer robust fraud and security resources related to online banking, bill pay, and general fraud protection education at nwpluscu.com.

Here are three current scams on the rise—and how to protect yourself.

1. Vishing: When a Scam Comes Calling

Vishing (short for voice phishing) is a scam that happens over the phone. Criminals pretend to be representatives from trusted organizations—like a bank, government agency, or even a tech company—to trick you into sharing sensitive information such as account numbers or passwords. These scammers often use urgency and fear to manipulate you into acting quickly. They may sound aggressive or demanding, but don’t let that pressure you. A legitimate organization will never call and demand that you provide personal information or act immediately without verification.

How To Protect Yourself:

• Stay calm and don’t respond on the spot.
• Hang up and call the organization directly using a verified number—not the one the caller gave you.
• If the caller becomes more aggressive when you say you want to verify their identity, that’s a major red flag.

2. Driver’s License Theft: More Than Just an ID

There’s a growing black market for stolen or copied driver’s licenses. Scammers use them to commit identity theft, apply for fraudulent loans or credit, get illegal employment, or even evade law enforcement.

A common tactic: You receive a message—often by email or social media—saying there’s suspicious activity on one of your accounts (like Google or Facebook). The sender asks you to “verify your identity” by sending a scanned copy of your driver’s license or holding it up during a video call.

Don’t fall for it. Reputable companies will never ask for this kind of sensitive information through unsecured channels.

How To Protect Yourself:

• Never send personal documents via email or social messaging.
• Contact the company through officially published methods to verify the request.

3. Fake Websites That Look Real

Fraudsters are creating websites that are nearly identical to real ones from trusted companies, sometimes even cloning the real pages. These fake sites are designed to steal your personal or financial information when you try to log in or make a transaction.

You may receive a link via email or direct message claiming to be from a company you trust— such as your bank or a popular retailer. But clicking that link could take you to a phony site where entering your credentials exposes you to fraud and identity theft.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Always go to the website by typing the URL directly into your browser.
• Don’t click on links from emails or messages unless you’re 100% sure they’re legitimate.
• Look closely at the website address—it might be slightly off (like “nwplusc0.com” instead of “nwpluscu.com”).

How to Stay Protected

Whether you're managing personal finances or running a small business, your digital security depends on good habits and a healthy dose of skepticism.

Here are some key tips:

• Verify callers independently: Use official contact info to confirm any suspicious requests.
• Watch for urgency or scare tactics: Take a breath, pause, and validate before you act.
• Report suspicious activity: Alert the organization being impersonated or report the scam to local authorities.
• Use strong, unique passwords: If your login password is still “abc123,” it’s time for an upgrade. Use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using the same password across accounts.

NW Plus Credit Union is Here to Help

From secure online banking to bill pay protection and fraud monitoring tools, NW Plus Credit Union is committed to keeping your personal and business accounts safe. You can find tips, tools, and more at nwpluscu.com

Have questions or think your account may be at risk? Contact us immediately—we’re here to support you every step of the way.

 Never share your account number, passwords, answers to security questions or other account information. We will never ask you for this type of information when we call or email you. If someone claiming to be a NW Plus CU representative asks for sensitive account information over the phone or in an email, end the conversation immediately and call us at 425.297.1000 or come to one of our branches to report the incident.