Fraud Prevention Tips

Account fraud and debit/check card security breaches are very realistic problems that people in today's world have to face. With technology constantly evolving, so do the practices of fraud and compromised security.

At Lone Star Credit Union, we use the very best practices and policies in order to keep all of our members' account information secure. Unfortunately, there are merchants who aren't as strict about safeguarding people's information as financial institutions. Below are some hints, tips, and suggestions on how to better protect yourself and your money.

LSCU will never contact you and ask you to provide information (numbers on your card, etc) regarding your debit/check card. If someone does contact you and you feel unsure, end the call! You can always contact LSCU directly.
If you pay for anything with your card over the phone or online, make sure you are comfortable with the merchant and understand fully the charges that you are accepting. Make sure you read all the fine print, including Terms & Agreements, which legally are required to be made known to you.
It is more difficult to commit fraud on any transaction that requires a PIN, also known as a debit transaction. Your PIN should be kept secret and not given out to anybody. While it is suggested you not write your PIN down; if you have it written somewhere do not keep it in your purse, wallet or any easily accessible place. It is also advisable you not choose a PIN that contains any easily identifiable information about yourself. Ex: Last four of social, birthday, address, etc.
If you are going out of the country or will be making purchases that are normally above your limit, contact LSCU and we can take that into consideration when monitoring our members' card activity

LSCU monitors debit card activity in 'real time' on our members' behalf. If LSCU notices suspicious activity on a card, we may deactivate your card in order to protect you. However, we do have a large volume of card activity and it can take a while to notice if something seems suspicious.

If, in the unfortunate case your card does end up being compromised, we will contact you and notify you of the next steps we will need to take. It is always best practice to keep a watchful eye on your own purchases and account activity, and should you notice anything out of the ordinary; we encourage you to contact LSCU.