Fraud Information Center

Account Security Information

Southland Federal Credit Union (SFCU) takes every precaution when it comes to protecting our member’s information and data security. Always remember that SFCU will never contact you and ask for personal or sensitive account information. Always Review your account statements by calling SFCU at 1-(936)-639-2311 or toll free at 1-(866)-967-9365.

 

Card Security Information

Compromises to your card security can occur when you shop online or make purchases at a variety of point-of-sale locations including retailers and restaurants. SFCU is committed to protecting your personal information and responds immediately to reported suspicious card activity.

 

ATM/Debit Cards

If your SFCU debit card has been lost or stolen, call us during regular work hours at 1-(936)-639-2311 or toll free at 1-(800)-610-2696.

For issues or suspected fraud with your SFCU debit card, call us during regular work hours at 936-639-2311 or after hours at 1-888-918-7313.

 

Credit Cards

If your SFCU MasterCard credit card has been lost or stolen, immediately call Card Services at 1-(800)-442-4757.

 

Protect What’s Yours

Identity theft is the fraudulent use of a person’s personal identifying information. Often, identity thieves will use another person’s personal information, such as a Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, date of birth, or account number to open fraudulent new credit card accounts, charge existing credit card accounts, write checks or share drafts, open share accounts, or obtain new loans.

A fraud or scam uses deceptive, unlawful or misrepresentative practices to trick you out of money or other financial goods. Sometimes scams involve selling you counterfeit goods, misrepresenting items or simply do not deliver on items purchased or promised. Conmen and scammers often falsely claim to represent a company or financial institution to gain your confidence.

Under the Federal Credit Union Act, promoting financial literacy is a core credit union mission. While credit unions serve the needs of their members and promote financial literacy within the communities they serve, NCUA works to reinforce credit union efforts, raise consumer awareness and increase access to credit union services.

 

Preventing Online/Identity Theft

Here are some additional tips to help prevent becoming a victim of online identity theft.

Take these important steps today to protect your name, credit and reputation: review your consumer credit report from each of the three credit agencies twice a year. See if there are accounts or addresses you don’t recognize. Is your social security number correct? Have there been more credit inquiries than normal? Any of these may be early signs of identity theft. If you find something suspicious on your credit report, call the agency’s fraud hotline immediately. You also may want to add a consumer fraud alert, which asks creditors to telephone you each time a new account is opened in your name.

Request a free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-(877)-322-8228. Consumers are entitled by law to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion® for a total of three reports every year. Contact information for the credit bureaus can be found on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website.

  • DON’T BE A VICTIM… If you suspect identity theft or online fraud, report it to your local police, the three credit agencies and the Federal Trade Commission and be sure to notify Southland Federal Credit Union too!
  • LIMIT THE USE OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. Provide your social security number only when necessary and never provide it in response to an unsolicited email. Don’t carry the card in your wallet and never print it on your checks.
  • SHRED UNEEDED IMPORTANT PAPERS — especially credit card solicitations — with a crosscut shredder. Some identity thieves try to piece cut papers back together.
  • DON’T USE YOUR MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME as a password on personal accounts; it’s too easy to learn. Change it to another word with the creditors. When creating a password, include letters, numbers and symbols (for example: E$G%2Q) since they are more difficult for identity thieves to guess.
  • DON’T GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION ONLINE OR ON THE PHONE unless you initiated the contact and you know the party you are dealing with.
  • PROTECT YOUR ONLINE LOG-INS AND PASSWORDS – Don’t share your passwords or login names and avoid leaving or writing them down near or around your computer. Protect them as you do your ATM and credit card numbers.

If you suspect identity theft or online fraud:

  1. Report it to your local police;
  2. Notify the three credit agencies;
  3. Notify the Federal Trade Commission; and
  4. Be sure to notify Southland Federal Credit Union too!