FTC Reports Rise in Text Message Scams

Text messages make the world go ’round—they’re the fastest way to spread information from one corner of the world to the next. And while we all might be eager to see who sent us a text and start opening attachments or clicking links, it’s important to stop and think, “Is this for real?”

A new analysis from the Federal Trade Commission shows that bogus bank fraud warnings are the most common form of text message scam reported to the agency, and that many of the most common text scams impersonate well-known businesses, like your favorite credit union—Embold.

These texts are designed to create a sense of urgency, often by asking people to verify a large transaction they did not make. Those who respond are connected to a fake bank or credit union representative.

After bank or credit union impersonation, the most frequently reported text scams are: messages claiming to offer a free gift, often from a cell phone carrier or retailer; fake claims of package delivery issues from the USPS, UPS, or FedEx; phony job offers for things like mystery shopping and car wrapping; and bogus Amazon security alerts.

We’d like to take this moment to remind our members that we will never solicit your personal or account information through an email, text message, or phone call. From time to time, we may send you text messages to alert you of important information or ask about your experience with our brand. These messages will always come from 503.446.6922.

If you are in doubt or suspicious about a particular communication you are receiving regarding Embold or if you think you may have exposed yourself to potential fraud, please call us immediately at 503.656.0671 or reach out using our contact form.