Fraud Types

Social Media Affinity Fraud

Con artists take advantage of how easily people share background and personal information online by using this information to make a highly targeted pitch to friends within a particular social group. Just because someone has friended you online doesn't mean that person is your friend when it comes to sharing personal information.

Phishing

Phishing uses unsolicited, unwanted e-mail or popup messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.

International Lottery Scams

Scam operators - often based in Canada - are using the telephone and direct mail to entice U.S. consumers to buy chances in high-stakes foreign lotteries from as far away as Australia and Europe. These lottery solicitations violate U.S. law, which prohibits the cross-border sale or purchase of lottery tickets by phone or mail.

Nigeria/419 Scams

Similar to International Lottery Scams, Nigeria/419 Scams are requests to transfer funds and/or open accounts for parties from foreign countries.

Please remember that Varian Credit Union will never ask you for personal information, or information about your credit union accounts via e-mail, a web page, or over the phone.