Throughout life’s journey, St. Thomas Federal Credit Union is here to help you reach your financial goals. Money 101 is our ongoing education series—built for the people of St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands—to show practical ways to get the most out of your money so you can get the most out of life.
Staying Vigilent Against Scammers
Our older members are the heart of STTFCU. You value personal service and straight talk, and so do we. Unfortunately, scammers know this, so they’ll try phone calls, texts emails, and even social media to trick people into sending money or sharing private information. The good news: A few simple habits can stop most scams cold.
The Three Golden Rules
- Pause. Breathe. Verify. If anything feels urgent or pushy to you, hang up and call a trusted number (STTFCU, your utility company, your doctor, etc.). If a link in an email seems odd to you, then it probably is. Don’t click it.
- Never share one-time codes, PINs or passwords. No legitimate company will ask for any of these by phone, text or email. We don’t, either.
- Don’t pay with gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or Zelle/Venmo to strangers. These are scammers’ favorites.
And remember: Caller ID can be faked. Emails and websites can be made to look “official.” It’s OK to hang up, not click a link, not open anything suspicious, etc.
Common Scams (and How to Spot Them)
“Someone you know is in trouble”
This is usually a frantic call from someone posing as a friend or family member asking for immediate financial assistance. With calls like this, always verify with someone you trust before doing anything.
Government or utility threats
“Pay now or we’ll arrest you/shut off power.” Real agencies don’t demand instant payment by gift card or wire.
Prize/lottery
“You’ve won! All you need is to pay fees or taxes first.” Valid prizes don’t require upfront payment. And, in most cases, you’ll never win a contest that you didn’t enter yourself directly.
Tech support
A pop-up warning says your computer or phone is infected. Don’t click anything! Power off and ask a trusted person or STTFCU for help.
Romance or “new friend”
Someone (you’ve probably never met or heard of before) uses information they found about you online to build an emotional appeal. They’ll ask you for money or gift cards. Don’t send anything under any circumstances.
“Bank” text or email
A link encourages you to log into one of your accounts “to fix a problem.” Don’t tap any links. Call us if you have any doubts about a financial email or text.
Strengthen Your Accounts
- Turn on alerts: Get a text/email when your balance changes, a large purchase posts or cash leaves your account.
- Use two-factor logins: Add a security code that gets sent to your phone for online banking and your email.
- Lock your phone with a PIN and keep it updated.
- Choose eStatements or review paper statements quickly. Look for anything you don’t recognize.
- Keep a “Safe Call Sheet” by the phone: STTFCU, your doctor, pharmacy, utilities and a trusted family contact.
St. Thomas Federal Credit Union is committed to protecting our members, especially our elders. We take your security seriously and treat every concern with care and respect. If something doesn’t feel right, call us. We’re here to help you keep your money safe.
Watch this space for new Money 101 articles and workshops on topics that matter, like fraud prevention, budgeting, eStatements, and more. Your confidence is our goal!