What Is a Credit Union Impersonation Scam?

Scammers pretend to be employees of Baylands Family Credit Union, using phone calls (vishing), text messages (smishing), or emails (phishing). Their goal? To steal your debit card info, bypass security protections, and access your account, or even trick you into sending money for fake payments.

Common Scam Scenarios

📞 Vishing (Voice Call Scam):

A scammer calls using a spoofed Baylands Family Credit Union number, claiming they need to verify your identity. They may ask for a PIN or security answers while actively trying to log into your account. Once they’re in, they change your password and transfer your funds.

📩 Phishing & Smishing (Email/Text Scam):

You receive a message that looks like it’s from Baylands Family’s fraud department, warning of suspicious activity, and it asks you to reply with sensitive info like your card number, CVV, or login credentials. Don’t respond! It is a trap!

🔒 How to Protect Yourself

Never share personal info via text. Don’t click on links or phone numbers in unsolicited texts or emails.

If you receive a call you didn’t initiate, even if it looks like it’s from Baylands Family Credit Union, hang up and call us directly at 804-843-2520 or 888-843-2520.

Baylands Family Will NEVER Ask You For:

• Social Security Number
• Credit or Debit Card Numbers
• CVV or Security Code
• PIN
• Address or Date of Birth
• Online Banking Login Info
• Verification Codes or Passwords

If someone asks for this info claiming to be from Baylands Family Credit Union, hang up immediately or delete the message.

💪 Fighting Fraud Together

We use strong security measures to protect your accounts, but your vigilance is key. If something feels off, trust your instincts and report it.

If you receive a suspicious message or call impersonating Baylands Family Credit Union, contact us right away at 804-843-2520 or 888-843-2520. We’ll investigate and take action to protect our members.

For more tips, visit https://www.baylandsfcu.org/Services/Security-Central-Awareness-Protection#Security-Tip or check out the Federal Trade Commission’s resources on scams and fraud: https://consumer.ftc.gov/unwanted-calls-emails-texts

The most important thing is to NEVER share your security credentials with anyone.

When it comes to fighting fraud, education is your strongest shield. Check out these helpful articles and trusted sites to stay a step ahead of scams—and know what to do if something doesn't seem right.

We want to make you aware of a text message scam that has recently been targeting some of our members. Sadly, this type of fraud is not unique to Baylands — financial institutions of all kinds across the country are seeing a rise in these scams, and staying informed is one of the best ways to stay protected. In this scam, fraudsters impersonate Baylands via text, displaying a fabricated transaction and prompting you to click a link to "cancel" it.

Knowing what to look for can make all the difference. Here are some common red flags that may indicate a scam:

• Urgency or threats — Scam messages often create a false sense of panic to pressure you into acting quickly without thinking
• Unfamiliar or suspicious links — Links that appear slightly off, misspelled, or unrelated to a legitimate financial institution's domain
• Requests for sensitive information — Legitimate institutions will never ask for your PIN, password, or full account details via text or email
• Unrecognized transactions — Fake alerts about charges or activity intended to alarm you into clicking a link
• Impersonal greetings — Fraudulent messages frequently use vague salutations rather than your actual name

If you receive a message like this — or any other suspicious text or email — please do not click any links. Should you have already clicked on a link of this nature, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible at 804.843.2520 so we can verify the security of your account and take any necessary steps to protect it.

Always check your monthly statements.

This helps find transactions that you did not make, or catch mistakes so you can take timely action.

Use online resources to monitor your accounts.

For example, setup alerts to notify you of transactions or balance changes. Use Online and Mobile App banking to look at your accounts regularly, and setup BillPay to pay your bills securely.

Shred documents containing personal information.

Simply throwing sensitive information away could expose that information to people willing to comb through garbage to obtain personal information.

And remember, Baylands will NEVER contact you directly (by phone, email, or text) to ask for specific confidential information, including your:

• Debit or credit card number
• Personal Identification Number (PIN)
• Security (CVV) code on back of card
• Online Banking username or password
• Social Security Number

• Be Cyber Smart
• Stolen Identity? Get Help
• FTC - Do NOT Call List