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🚨Important Reminder: Beware of Scams

Published on July 7, 2025

📞 Increased Phone Scam Spoofing Activity

Imposter scams continue to rise, and financial institutions, including TEG, often see spikes around holidays and long weekends. While you are spending time with family, scammers may work overtime to catch you off guard. They know people are distracted and that financial institutions may be closed or lightly staffed. That is when they try to create urgency, sound believable, and pressure you into sharing personal or financial information over the phone.

Even one of our team members was targeted by this exact tactic. The call appeared to come from TEGFCU and even displayed our name on Caller ID, but it was fraudulent. The scammer claimed there were unauthorized charges and tried to rush the conversation by asking for personal information to “verify” the account.

In some cases, scammers also tell members not to talk to branch staff because staff may be involved, to create fear and keep members from trusting TEG. This is what imposter scams do: they pretend to be a trusted institution, create stress, and push you to respond before you have time to verify the call.

⚠️ Important note: TEG is not alone. Imposter scams are on the rise across the country, affecting financial institutions, government agencies, toll services, and other trusted organizations. Scammers are getting more convincing, more aggressive, and more coordinated—so every unexpected call, text, or email deserves a closer look.

🚨 Please Remember:

TEG will never ask you for your:

Account number
Online banking password
PIN
Social Security number
One-time passcodes or verification codes
Any other sensitive information over the phone
Remote access to your accounts

Even is a call appears to come from us, do not share personal or account information unless you initiated the call using our official number.

✅ What to Do if You Receive a Suspicious Call:

Hang up right away if something feels off
Do not share personal or account information
Report any suspicious activity directly to us at (845) 452-7323 or visit your local branch

Your safety is our top priority. We are committed to protecting your identity and financial well-being.

🔎 Stay Vigilant: New Scam Trends and Warning Signs

Here’s why staying alert matters right now: Imposter scams have remained one of the most reported fraud categories for years, and the problem is getting worse. According to the FTC, consumers reported $3.5 billion in losses to imposter scams in 2025 alone, while total reported fraud losses climbed to $15.9 billion, up sharply from $12 billion the year before. Scammers are moving fast, sounding convincing, and counting on people to react before they pause and verify.

Stop, take a breath, and slow down. Scammers use urgency and gear to push you to act before you think.
Be cautious with unexpected calls, texts, or emails, including fake toll-payment alerts or messages that claim your account, card, or vehicle registration is at risk.
Never share sensitive information, one-time codes, passwords, or PINs in response to an unsolicited contact.
Do not send money through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or so-called verification fees. These are major red flags.
Do not move the conversation to private messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram just because someone tells you to.
Be extra careful if someone tells you not to talk to branch staff because staff may be involved. This is a common scam tactic used to scare members into distrusting TEG while our team is gathering more information about suspicious activity.
Watch for recovery scams. If someone promises to help get your money back for a fee, it is likely another scam.
Trust your instincts, ask someone you trust before you act, and report suspicious contact immediately to TEGFCU.
Visit trusted resources like the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center to stay informed about current scams.