Your best defense against fraud, scams, and identity theft is knowing what to watch for and how to protect yourself. Fraud is more common than you think, and if it happens to you, theres no shame—it can happen to anyone. Let’s go over some essential fraud protection strategies and tools Sandia Area offers to help safeguard your accounts so you can stay one step ahead of scammers. If you ever fall victim to fraud, we’re here to assist you in getting back on track.
Fraud Targeting Seniors
Scammers often target seniors because they may have more assets, be less familiar with online fraud tactics, and sometimes lack immediate family support to help verify suspicious claims. If you have seniors in your family, make sure they’re aware of these common scams:

• Free medical equipment scams – Fraudsters claim they can provide expensive medical equipment at no cost but ask for insurance details or credit card information upfront.
• Cheap online prescription drugs – Ads promoting low-cost medications often lead to counterfeit drugs or no delivery at all after payment.
• Affordable Healthcare enrollment scams – Scammers falsely claim you must sign up for health coverage immediately to avoid penalties. The government does not make these calls.
• Investment seminar scams – Free lunch or dinner invitations often come with high-pressure sales tactics for fake or risky investments. Feeling pressured on a call? Hang up!
• Fake IRS calls – The IRS never calls demanding immediate payment or threatening jail time. If someone asks for payment via gift cards or wire transfers, it’s a scam. If you ever receive a call and are unsure of its legitimacy, hang up and call the institution back to be sure.
• Obituary scams – A caller claims a deceased family member had unpaid debts and pressures survivors into paying.
• Grandparent scams – Someone calls pretending to be a grandchild in distress, claiming they need money for bail or an emergency. If you get this kind of call, hang up and call your family member directly.

The best defense against these scams? Hang up the phone and verify the claims through trusted sources. When in doubt, hang up! 

Phone Scams
Scammers often impersonate banks, credit unions, government agencies, or even lottery organizations. They pressure you to act fast—whether to avoid a fee, claim a prize, or prevent supposed legal trouble. If a call seems suspicious, hang up and contact the company directly using the official number from their website.

Sandia Area will never call or text asking for your personal information or login information. If something feels off, call us directly at 505-292-6343 or visit your nearest branch to verify the communication.

Identity Theft Protection
Criminals use stolen personal information to commit fraud, but you can take steps to protect yourself:

• Shred sensitive documents – Any paperwork with account numbers, your birthdate, or Social Security number should be shredded. Sandia Area offers free shred events to all members—visit our member events page for details.
• Monitor your accounts – Regularly review your checking, savings, and credit card statements for unauthorized charges. Consider signing up for Debit Card Alerts on your mobile banking app to get real-time notifications of card activity.
• Go paperless – Reduce the risk of mail theft by enrolling in eStatements to receive your financial statements securely online.
• Add a code word – Protect against unauthorized access to your Sandia Area account by setting up a secure code word to verify with our representatives when making any changes to your account. This will add an extra layer of security when verifying your identity. 
• Check your credit report – Review your credit report annually for errors or fraudulent accounts at www.annualcreditreport.com or at any of the credit bureaus. 

Social Engineering Scams
Social engineering happens when scammers manipulate people into giving away personal details. Protect yourself by:

• Avoiding oversharing online—keep your full birthday, address, phone number, and social security number private.
• Being cautious about new online “friends” who ask for money or sensitive information.
• Using strong, unique passwords and enabling fraud alerts on your accounts if you suspect identity theft. Consider using a password manager to avoid duplicating passwords and to organize your information in one place. 

Consider Credit Monitoring & Freezing Your Credit
A credit freeze can prevent scammers from opening accounts in your name. You can place a freeze for free by contacting the major credit bureaus:

• Equifax: 1-800-349-9960 | www.equifax.com
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742 | www.experian.com
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 | www.transunion.com

For added protection, consider ID theft protection services that provide alerts and fraud monitoring. Visit our fraud center for information on Mastercard ID Theft protection and more resources for Sandia Area members. 
Stay Fraud-Savvy with Sandia Area
We’re committed to helping you stay informed and secure. Visit our financial fraud and security center for new tips on fraud prevention each month, information on Sandia Area fraud services, ongoing fraud awareness seminars and events, KRQE segments from our fraud expert, and more. 
If you ever suspect fraud on your Sandia Area accounts, contact us immediately at 505-292-6343 or visit a branch. Sandia Area will never call or text you asking for your personal information. Think you received a suspicious call or text from us? Hang up, do not reply, and call us back to verify the communication. 
Want to stay up-to-date on fraud resources from Sandia Area? Sign up for the monthly fraud newsletter! Call us and update your email to stay informed.