Criminals steal checks from mailboxes or intercept them during delivery. They “wash” the check—removing ink—and change details like the payee, amount, or date. Your check may look normal when you write it, but by the time it clears, it could be for hundreds or thousands more than intended.

What can you do?

• Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
• Review your statements monthly and log in weekly (or daily) to check transactions.
• Review check images in Online/Mobile Banking.
• Compare the transaction to your checkbook’s duplicate or carbonless copy

Know your liability: 

You have 60 days from your account statement where the ledger shows the check clearing your account to report unauthorized changes; after that, you’re fully liable.

Click HERE for full Account Agreement.

Fraudsters pose as legitimate businesses, government agencies, or even family members in distress. They pressure you to wire money immediately—often claiming urgency or secrecy. Once you send the funds, they vanish. These scams often cost victims tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What can you do?

• Always verify who you’re sending money to.
• Do your research before wiring funds.
• Unfortunately, once the money is gone, it’s almost impossible to recover. 

Know your liability: 

You are fully liable for the full amount of the wire if the credit union processed the wire using the information you provided on the Wire form.

Click HERE to learn more about wire transfer safety.

A cashier’s check feels secure, but if it’s lost or stolen, your money is locked for 90 days with no way to reissue a new cashier’s check. Scammers may intercept checks in the mail or trick you into sending one to a fake business or individual.

What can you do?

• Hand-deliver checks or use certified mail with tracking.
• Only pay people you know and trust.
• Once a cashier’s check is cashed, the credit union cannot recover those funds. We can provide guidance on possible next steps—such as filing a civil complaint or involving law enforcement—but as a general rule, it is almost impossible to get your money back.

Know your liability: 

• You are liable for the full amount of the check if it was negotiated as directed, even if the check was made payable to someone under false pretenses.
• You may have criminal and civil legal options to go after the Payee, but neither Dow Credit Union nor the bank of deposit has liability in the transaction.

Click HERE for full Account Agreement.

ACH withdrawal scams use phishing, fake invoices, or other methods to get your bank details, then initiate unauthorized debits (pulling money out) through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, often disguised as fake debts, job fees, or tech support payments, draining accounts slowly or quickly, and can be hard to reverse since they are direct bank transfers. This often happens after you share your banking details for a “refund,” “prize,” or fake job.

What can you do?

• Protect your account information and routing numbers.
• Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
• Review your statements monthly and log in weekly (or daily) to check transactions.
• If fraud occurs and the culprit is identified, legal action may be taken by the consumer to recover losses.
• How quickly you report the fraud impacts your liability.

Know your liability: 

You are usually not responsible for unauthorized transactions if you report them within 60 days of the first bank statement that shows the problem. If you do not report the unauthorized transaction within those 60 days, you are still not responsible for any unauthorized transactions that happened during the first 60 days after the initial unauthorized charge. However, you may be fully responsible for any unauthorized transactions that occur 61 days or more after that first statement. All cases are reviewed individually. Liability depends on the results of an investigation, including how each ACH withdrawal was made and the accounts used by the fraudsters.

Someone watches you enter your PIN or convinces you to share it. If you give out your PIN—even to a friend—you’re liable for all withdrawals they make.

What can you do?

• Report missing cards or funds immediately. An investigation will follow which may involve law enforcement. If you’re not at fault, a civil complaint may be filed to recover losses.
• Never share your PIN.
• If fraud occurs and the person is identified, legal action initiated by the consumer with law enforcement may be taken to recover the lost funds.
• Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
• Review your statements monthly and log in weekly (or daily) to check transactions.

Know your liability: 

When you provide your PIN to a third party, (even if deceived by social engineering), you will be deemed to have "authorized" that person to access your account. You will be liable for any transactions. If your card was not in your possession, you have the same limitations for reporting the card as lost/stolen and have the same liability as the Debit Card Lost card timeframes. An investigation into the transaction will be completed.

Click HERE for full Account Agreement.

Someone asks you to deposit a check using mobile deposit for them and promises you can keep a portion of the money. After you deposit it, the check bounces as fraudulent. In the meantime, you’ve given them cash—leaving you responsible for the loss.

What can you do?

• NEVER SHARE YOUR CODE! We provide two warnings. Online Banking Warning: "We sent a text message with a verification code to ********6955. This code will expire after 5 minutes. Never share this code with anyone." Text Message Warning: "Dow Credit Union - Never share this code. If you are asked for it, STOP! It's a scam. Enter only in the mobile app or at ob.dowcreditunion.org."
• Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
• Review your statements monthly and log in weekly (or daily) to check transactions.

Know your liability: 

If you disclose your username, password, and/or one-time passcode to a person or entity that then uses this information, you will be held liable for any resulting fraudulent transactions.

Click HERE for Online Banking Terms and Conditions.

If you share your login credentials or one-time security passcode, scammers can access your account. They may use it to steal your money or turn you into a “money mule” for illegal transactions.

What can you do?

• NEVER SHARE YOUR CODE! We provide two warnings. Online Banking Warning: "We sent a text message with a verification code to ********6955. This code will expire after 5 minutes. Never share this code with anyone." Text Message Warning: "Dow Credit Union - Never share this code. If you are asked for it, STOP! It's a scam. Enter only in the mobile app or at ob.dowcreditunion.org."
• Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
• Review your statements monthly and log in weekly (or daily) to check transactions.

Know your liability: 

If you disclose your username, password, and/or one-time passcode to a person or entity that then uses this information, you will be held liable for any resulting fraudulent transactions.

Click HERE for Online Banking Terms and Conditions.

Criminals steal your card info through skimmers, hacked websites, or phishing. They test the card with small charges before making big purchases.

What can you do?

• Set up alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
• Review your statements monthly and log in weekly (or daily) to check transactions.

Report a Lost/Stolen Card Immediately

• If fraud occurs and the culprit is identified, legal action initiated by the consumer with law enforcement may be taken to recover losses.
• Report a lost card within 60 days to protect your liability and qualify for reimbursement.

Know your liability: 

• Immediate Report ($0 liability): If you report the card as lost or stolen before any unauthorized charges are made, your liability is $0.
  
• Within 2 Business Days ($50 Maximum Liability): If you report the loss within two business days of learning about it, your maximum liability is $50.
  
• Between 3 and 59 Calendar Days ($500 Maximum Liability): If you report the loss more than two business days after learning about it, but within 60 calendar days of the statement showing the unauthorized charges, your liability is capped at $500.
  
• After 60 Calendar Days (Unlimited Liability): If you fail to report the unauthorized transactions on the statement within 60 calendar days, you could be liable for the full amount of all unauthorized charges.

Click HERE for full Account Agreement.