If you have received a phone call, email, or text message asking for personal account information, do not respond to them. These are scams. MAFCU will NEVER ask you to reveal this information by phone, email, text message, or mail. If you have received one of these messages, call a MAFCU Member Service Representative at 617-278-5600.

Scam Alert

The rapid growth of online commerce has led to Internet scams, including “phishing” and other methods of identity theft. Phishing works like this: Scammers send you what looks like a legitimate message from a reputable institution, or someone you know or trust. These email or pop-up messages usually are alarming, claiming that your account will be closed or suspended if action is not taken at that time; that your account needs verification;  or that unauthorized transactions on your account are suspected and you need to confirm your identity.

NEVER ANSWER EMAIL MESSAGES THAT ASK YOU TO GIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION. These scammers attempt to get you to reveal personal sensitive information (Social Security number, user IDs, account numbers, etc.), and will use this data to forge your identity and steal from your accounts. MAFCU will NEVER ask you to reveal this kind of information by email. Do not respond to these kinds of e-mails from anyone regardless of how official they look. Click on this link http://www.unfcu.org/emailfraud.html for more information from NCUA.  Anyone who has an email address can be a potential victim of phishing.

Here are a few ways to protect yourself:

  • Never click on a link from email, even if it appears valid.
  • Delete it immediately. If you are concerned that the message is real, call the company, or go to the company’s real website by typing in the address yourself. MAFCU will never ask you to reveal this kind of information by email.
  • Do not respond to these kinds of emails from anyone regardless of how official they look.
  • Install anti-virus software and a firewall, which helps to block communications from unknown places. It is also important to keep this software up-to-date.
  • Review your financial and credit card statements when you receive them and check for suspicious charges.
  • Be wary about opening any attachments, or downloading any files, from email, even if you know it’s legitimate.
  • Keep yourself informed. Go to www.ncua.gov for more information from NCUA. The Federal Trade Commission has more information about identity theft scams at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Here are some important phone numbers and contacts if you or someone you know is a victim of identity theft:

  • Credit bureaus: 
    Experian 888-397-3742 
    Equifax: 800-525-6285 
    TransUnion 800-916-8800
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 877-FTC-HELP Social Security 800-269-0271
  • Your Local Police
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • Registry of Motor Vehicles