SESLOC members are reporting a very sophisticated scam which attempts to steal money through wire transfers from SESLOC accounts to another financial institution.
The scam starts with either a computer-generated phone call, text message, or computer pop-up alert asking the member to contact the scammers immediately to take action in protecting their account and money. From there, the scammer will claim that the SESLOC account has been compromised allegedly by a “bad employee” or another inside party. In order to “protect” the money, the scammer will claim they need to complete a wire transfer to another financial institution.
These calls and text messages are fake. Please do not reply, do not click the links, and never give out a one-time passcode. Even if the caller appears to be from SESLOC, hang up on the caller and call SESLOC directly at (805) 543-1816 to report the incident.
The scammers may attempt to provide coaching on what to say when completing the wire transfer, including saying it is for a friend or relative, business-related purpose, or even claiming they are transferring to another account they own. Additionally, they may ask to stay on the phone when attempting the transaction to ensure it is done correctly. SESLOC employees will never ask you to wire transfer funds to another account outside of the credit union to protect your assets.
Unfortunately, these incidents are becoming more common. Click here to find out more information about wire transfer scams from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
SESLOC will never call, email or text you to request confidential or personal information, or demand a wire transfer. If you feel a phone call, website pop-up or text message is suspicious, hang up immediately and do not answer again. Do not respond to suspicious text messages or emails.
If you have received a suspicious phone call or believe you have given any personal information to a scammer, please report the incident to SESLOC immediately at (805) 543-1816, or send a secure message in Online Banking. Notifying us helps them keep tabs on suspicious activity and can help shut down scams as they pop up.
- Take a screenshot of a text message, email message or webpage and send to us via Secure Message in Online Banking or via Live Chat on sesloc.org. To access our website, ALWAYS type https://sesloc.org in your internet browser.
- Call SESLOC at (805) 543-1816 by dialing the number on your keypad to verify if a message is valid. Do not click on a past incoming call from your call log history.
You may also:
- Report a suspicious phone call, email, text or pop-up ad to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Be prepared. See our tips for recognizing and avoiding phone spoofing scams
Check out these articles for more tips:
- How to Identify and Avoid America’s Top Scams
- AI Scams Are on the Rise
- 5 Ways to Protect Yourself From SMiShing Attacks
- Beware of Common Money Scams
- Top 10 Identity Theft Myths
- Action Plan: Recovering from Fraud
Help fight phishing scams!
Please use the links on this page for informational purposes regarding SESLOC member services and products. To access Online Banking, loan applications or forms, ALWAYS type https://sesloc.org in your internet browser.