Protecting Your Financial Well-Being: How To Avoid Fraud

In today’s digital world, fraud threats are constantly evolving. That makes protecting your financial information more important than ever. Staying safe requires a proactive approach — combining awareness, smart habits, and the right tools to detect and prevent suspicious activity. Here’s how you can take control and protect yourself from fraud.

What Not To Share

Keeping your personal and financial information private is one of the most effective ways to stop fraud before it starts. Never share the following details with anyone you don’t know or trust:

• Card Details: Your full credit or debit card number, expiration date, or security code (CVV) should remain private.
• Login Credentials: Your online banking username or password should never be shared.
• MFA Code: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes are for your use only. No one else should ever ask for them.
• PIN: Keep your PIN confidential and shield it when entering it at ATMs or payment terminals.
• Account Numbers: Avoid writing your account numbers down or storing them in unsecure places.

If you believe any of this information has been compromised, contact your financial institution immediately.

How To Safeguard What’s Yours

Here are some tools and habits you can use to keep your accounts more secure:

• Card Controls & Alerts: Many banking apps let you lock your card, set travel alerts, and receive real-time transaction notifications.
• ID Theft Monitoring: Consider subscribing to identity theft monitoring services to help detect suspicious activity early.
• Dispute Suspicious Activity: If you spot a transaction you don’t recognize, report it right away through your bank or card provider.

BCU & Security

BCU is committed to helping you protect your financial future. The Credit Union will never ask for your card, account, or login details. All BCU-issued cards come with Visa’s Zero Liability protection — so you’re never held responsible for unauthorized transactions when you report them promptly. In addition to advanced digital tools and personalized support, BCU provides resources to help you stay safe, informed, and in control of your financial security. Learn more by visiting the BCU Security Center.

Ready to experience the credit union difference? Become a member of BCU!

Join Today

About BCU: BCU is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union that is fiercely dedicated to Empowering People To Discover Financial Freedom. With over $6B in assets, BCU is committed to providing a fast, easy, and secure banking experience along with extraordinary service to more than 360,000 members. The BCU field of membership includes employees and their families from Fortune 100 companies across the US and Puerto Rico. Membership is also open to individuals who live or work in Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico, as well as subscribers of BCU’s wholly owned Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), Life. Money. You.^®. All BCU members enjoy lifetime access to financial services and well-being programs that inspire confidence through the brand promise “Here Today For Your Tomorrow.”

To learn more about how we can help you realize your financial dreams, visit BCU.org. For media inquiries, visit BCU.org/About-Us/Media-Relations.