--- title: "Protect Yourself from Fraud: Tips Every Digital Banking User Should Know" description: Scammers are finding more convincing ways to impersonate financial institutions. 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Unfortunately, scammers are also finding more convincing ways to impersonate financial institutions and create a false sense of urgency. You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. Knowing a few common warning signs and practicing smart security habits can go a long way. Quick Answer: Never share sensitive account information or move money based on an unexpected request. Excite will never ask you to buy gift cards, send cryptocurrency, or share a one-time passcode in response to an unexpected call, text, or email. If you initiate a call to Excite Credit Union using a trusted phone number, an Excite representative may generate a code during that call and ask you to read it back to verify your identity. Is It Really Your Credit Union? How to Tell   Scammers often rely on urgency to get you to act before you have time to think. Here are a few signs that can help you tell the difference: | **Signal** | **A Legitimate Message May...** | **A Scam May...** | | --- | --- | --- | | **Tone** | Give you clear information without unnecessary pressure | Push you to "act now" or risk losing access | | **Requests** | Direct you to a trusted channel to review your account. During a call you initiated using a verified Excite number, a representative may generate a one-time passcode and ask you to read it back | Unexpectedly contact you and ask you to "verify" sensitive login information and account details | | **Links** | Point you to trusted account resources | Send you to a lookalike sign-in page | | **Money** | Explain what's happening without pushing you to move money | Pressure you to transfer, wire or send money/cryptocurrency to protect it | | **Contact** | Let you verify through a trusted number, like the one on your card | Insist you stay on the line or use only the number provided | When in doubt, close the message and reach out through a channel you already trust. 1\. Give Your Password a Job of Its Own Remembering another password probably isn't anyone's favorite part of managing money. Still, your financial accounts deserve one that isn't pulling double duty. Reusing the same password across email, shopping, social media and financial services means one compromised account could put the others at risk. Instead: - Create a long, unique password for your online banking account - Skip easily guessed details like birthdays, names or common phrases - Don't reuse your financial password anywhere else - Consider a trusted password manager to keep track of unique logins If your credit union offers secure login options like multifactor authentication, use them. That extra step adds another layer of security between your account and anyone trying to access it. 2\. Keep Your Information Safe from Unexpected Calls Scammers often create urgency, asking you to share a verification code or provide account information to “fix” a problem. Never share a verification code, PIN, password, or other account information in response to an unexpected call, text, or email. Do not trust caller ID alone—scammers can make a call appear to come from Excite. If you initiated a call to Excite using a trusted phone number, an Excite representative may generate a code and ask you to read it back to verify your identity. Taking a few extra seconds to stop and check can help keep your accounts protected. 3\. Let Alerts Do Some of the Watching You don't have to refresh your transaction history all day. Alerts and notifications can help you keep an eye on your accounts while you handle everything else, making it easier to stay aware of purchases, transfers, balance changes or other activity. Think of them as one more tool in your routine. They can help with everyday tracking and budgeting while making unusual activity easier to catch. See something you don't recognize? Don't wait and hope it sorts itself out. Review it and contact your credit union promptly if you think it may be fraud. 4\. Keep Your Phone and Apps Updated That update you keep tapping "Remind Me Later" on is worth finally running. Updates for your phone, computer and apps often include security fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Turning on automatic updates can make staying current easier. It's also smart to download financial apps from official app stores, such as the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, rather than links in emails, texts or ads. Access digital banking through the official Excite app or by typing excitecu.org directly into your browser. Check the address carefully for misspellings or added words. A padlock symbol alone does not prove a website is legitimate. 5\. Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi Free Wi-Fi is great for directions or checking the weather. Your financial accounts can wait. Public networks may not offer the same level of security as a trusted home network, so avoid signing into online banking or moving money while you're on unsecured public Wi-Fi. Need to check something right away? Consider using your cellular connection or waiting until you're back on a network you trust. What Should You Do If You Notice Something Suspicious? Maybe there's a purchase you don't recognize. Or maybe you entered your password somewhere that looked wrong afterward. Act quickly. Contact Excite immediately through an official phone number, website or app, and change any potentially compromised passwords. If you reused that password elsewhere, review those accounts too. You can also report fraud and scams through the Federal Trade Commission at [consumer.ftc.gov](https://consumer.ftc.gov/), where you can find steps for reporting a scam, recovering from identity theft and protecting your information going forward. Once everything is secure, take a moment to notice what happened. Was it a convincing message? A reused password? An alert you almost ignored? Every close call can become a better habit. Make Digital Banking Work Smarter for You The best security habits don't make digital banking harder. They become part of the routine. Use secure login practices. Turn on useful alerts and notifications. Keep your technology updated. Check your activity regularly. And take time to question an email, text or call before acting on it. At Excite Credit Union, helping Members build a financially stronger future means giving you tools and information to manage your money with confidence, whether you're visiting us in your community or managing your finances online. Because good financial wellness isn't only about what you save or spend. It's also about protecting what you've worked hard to build. Frequently Asked Questions How Can I Make Online Banking More Secure? Use strong, unique passwords, turn on extra login security when it's available and keep your devices and apps updated. Never share a verification code in response to an unexpected request. Excite may ask you to read back a code generated during a call you initiated using a trusted phone number. Is Mobile Banking Safe? Mobile banking includes security features designed to help protect your account, but your own habits matter too. Protect your device with a passcode or biometric lock, keep your operating system and app updated and avoid signing into sensitive accounts over unsecured public Wi-Fi. What Are Account Alerts and Why Should I Use Them? Account alerts and notifications help you keep track of activity like transactions, transfers or balance changes. They can also help you notice unfamiliar activity sooner so you can look into it right away. What Should I Do If I Receive a Suspicious Text or Email About My Account? Don't click links or share sensitive information. Open your credit union's official app or website yourself or call a verified number to find out whether the message is legitimate. Should I Use the Same Password for Multiple Financial Accounts? No. A unique password for each important account helps keep one compromised password from being used to access the others. A trusted password manager can make this easier. *This article is for general educational purposes and is not a guarantee against fraud or unauthorized account activity. Digital banking features and availability may vary. Contact Excite Credit Union for current account, service and security information.* Topics: [Security](https://blog.excitecu.org/topic/security?hsLang=en), [Digital Banking](https://blog.excitecu.org/topic/digital-banking?hsLang=en), [Financial Wellness](https://blog.excitecu.org/topic/financial-wellness?hsLang=en) ### Posts by Topic - [Talking About Money (51)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/talking-about-money) - [Savings (28)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/savings) - [Budgeting (23)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/budgeting) - [Building Credit (12)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/building-credit) - [Auto (10)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/auto) - [Credit Unions are Different than Banks (6)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/credit-unions-are-different-than-banks) - [Retirement (6)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/retirement) - [Security (6)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/security) - [Business Services (5)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/business-services) - [Emergency (5)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/emergency) - [Parenting (5)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/parenting) - [Small Business (5)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/small-business) - [Credit Cards (4)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/credit-cards) - [Real Estate (4)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/real-estate) - [Taxes (4)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/taxes) - [Community Engagement (2)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/community-engagement) - [Home Improvement (1)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/home-improvement) - [Insurance (1)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/insurance) - [Student Loans (1)](https://blog.excitecu.org/tag/student-loans) see all ### About Excite - [About Us](https://excitecu.org/in-the-community/about-us/locations) - [Careers](https://excitecu.org/in-the-community/about-us/careers) - [Community](https://excitecu.org/in-the-community/community/excitecares) - [Legal](https://www.excitecu.org/Legal) - [**Phone: 800.232.8669**](tel:8002328669) - **Routing: 321176804** - **NMLS #477592** ### Resources - [Forms](https://www.excitecu.org/Learn/About-Us/Forms) - [Order Checks](https://www.deluxe.com/products-services/financial-checks-retail-linking.jsp) - [Opt Out](https://newapps.excitecu.org/MemberOptOuts/OptOutHome) - [Sitemap](https://www.excitecu.org/Sitemap) - [Privacy](https://excitecu.org/in-the-community/about-us/privacy) - [Make a Payment](https://www.excitecu.org/Payment-Options) - [Homeowner Hardship Assistance](https://www.excitecu.org/Personal/Borrow/Home-Loans/Home-Loan-Hardship-Assistance) ### Follow Us | [![Download on the App Store](https://www.excitecu.org/Content/Images/mobile-app-apple.png)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/excite-mobile-banking/id441879558) | [![Get it on Google Play](https://www.excitecu.org/Content/Images/mobile-app-google.png)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ifs.banking.fiid5230) | | --- | --- | Equal Housing Opportunity Federally Insured by NCUA © 2021 **Excite Credit Union**. 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