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    Fraud prevention centre

    Every year, tens of thousands of Canadians fall victim to fraud. Protecting our members is our priority. Providing the information, education, and methods that you can use to protect yourself and to learn how to spot and stop fraud is our first step. Remember that fraud can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone—including you.

    Our fraud prevention centre contains valuable information on scams, spotting red flags, and tips on how to protect yourself from falling victim to fraud. In addition, the Security section of our online Insights & Advice is a great resource for information, recommendations, and articles on security and fraud, including our popular series, Fraud Files: Spot the red flags, real-life stories of fraud.

    Fraud alerts

    Active scam alert

    We've been hearing reports of members receiving text messages that claim to be from SCU. Please remember we will not send you unexpected text messages asking you to click any links, nor will we ask you for personal information such as your passwords or verification codes.

    If you receive a text from someone claiming to be from SCU, please do not click any links. You may call us at 1.800.728.6440 to verify if it is legitimate.

    Important reminders

    When interacting with employees at SCU, it's important to remember that we will never:

    • Ask for your digital banking passwords or debit card number
    • Send you an email while on the phone and ask you to click the link
    • Ask you to read back a verification number that you’ve been texted
    • Ask you to send money through Interac e-Transfer®

    We're here to help

    We understand fraud can happen to anyone. If you receive a phone call, email, or text asking you to send money, especially if the person making the request advises you to not tell anyone, we urge you to talk to someone you trust. And, while it might feel embarrassing to have been a victim of fraud, it’s not your fault. Contacting your branch, even after the fact, allows us to ensure your account isn’t continuing to be accessed by the scammers and your money is safe from continued fraud.

    Any time you receive a phone call, text, or email that you aren’t sure is legitimate, you can always call and ask us to investigate it for you. Or check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on known scams.

    Active scam alert

    We have been made aware of an active scam where members receive a phone call from someone claiming to be calling from SCU. Please remember we will never ask you to share digital banking passwords or authentication/verification codes and we will never ask you for personal information.

    If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from SCU, please do not provide them with any information. Hang up immediately and call us back at 1.800.728.6440 to verify the call is legitimate.

    Common fraud tactics to watch out for

    Every day, we hear stories about fraud and think it could never happen to us. Unfortunately, fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated and more frequent. Many scams rely on tactics such as catching you off guard, aggressively pushing you for a response, or frightening you into behaving impulsively and responding before considering the repercussions.

    Learn more about common fraud tactics and what you can do to avoid them.
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    Protect yourself

    Learn about fraud and how to safely carry out your day-to-day activities in today’s digital world.

    Learn how to stay safe
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    Spot the scam

    Discover more about fraud scams and how to spot and stop fraud before it happens to you.

    Become scam savvy

    Did you know? 

    The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is Canada’s central source for information on fraud. In partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the Competition Bureau, the CAFC provides news, information, and resources for citizens and businesses in Canada to report fraud. 

    The numbers:

    • In 2024, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre ( CAFC) processed over 49,000 reports of fraud from almost 35,000 victims. 
    • The CAFC confirmed that in 2024 Canadians lost $638 million to scams and fraud — an increase of 60 million from 2023.
    • Despite the rise in financial losses, the rate of fraud being reported remain low, with only 5% to 10% reported.
    • Key findings in a TransUnion survey found that while the rate of suspected digital fraud grew year-over-year globally by 8% from 2022 - 2023, Canadian-based fraud outpaced the global rate significantly with a 39% increase in 2023 from 3.6% in 2022. 
    • The survey also found that telecommunications, insurance and online communities witnessed the most substantial increases in suspected digital fraud during that timeframe, with increases of 400 per cent, 90 per cent, and 75 per cent, respectively. 
    Learn more about the cost of fraud
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    Information centre
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    Report fraud

    You’re not alone. Whether you’ve fallen victim to fraud or have received a suspicious email or text, your first step is to report it.
    Learn how to report fraud
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    Fraud resources

    Stay up to date with fraud resources including a glossary of terms, helpful links, and the latest from the CAFC.
    Get the latest updates
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    Your privacy

    We invest considerable resources to protect your privacy, secure your information, and safeguard you from fraud.
    Learn how we protect your privacy

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