A phishing scam is targeting Alaskans, posing as employees of the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, said the state attorney general.
Attorney General Kevin G. Clarkson wrote in a press release that the scam, which sends a text or email to Alaskans, claims that their Alaska USA FCU account has been suspended, and that the recipient needs to click a link and provide information to unlock it. This is a common scam, in which scammers pose as representatives of major companies to gain access to a user’s information, Clarkson said.
“Scammers are good at mimicking trusted businesses,” Clarkson said a release. “We all have to be vigilant in protecting our personal information, and in reporting suspected scams to the authorities.”
Alaska USA FCU will never send a text or email asking you to reactivate your account, Clarkson said. If you receive an unexpected email and are unsure, call the company at their public phone number and speak to a representative. If you have accidentally already responded to such a scam, Clarkson suggests calling (800) 525-9094, and visit Identitytheft.gov to report and recoup losses from identity theft.
Alaskans lost $3.6 million in 2018, the last recorded year, to online scams.
Anyone with information or concerns about such scams is urged to call the Department of Law Consumer Protection office at 269-5200.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
