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Common Summer Scams: How to Spot 3 Major Financial Threats
The warm, carefree air of summer is finally here. And while the season brings plenty of fun sunny days and warm serene nights, it’s also the ideal time for scammers looking to catch you with your guard down.
As always, the best way to keep your accounts secure is to stay alert and know what tactics scammers are currently employing. To help increase your protection this summer, learn how to spot these three major summer scams.
Fake "Failed Login" Alerts
Account security is top of mind for everyone, and scammers frequently use a sense of urgency to trick you into willingly giving up your credentials. Once you allow a scammer access to your account, there is very little you can do to get your stolen funds back.
Red Flags to Watch Out For: Receiving an urgent text message claiming there has been a "failed login attempt" or suspicious activity on your financial or online accounts. The text demands that you click an attached link to secure your account immediately.
The Scam: The link directs you to a fake website that looks identical to a real portal (like your Online Banking dashboard). If you log in through this fake portal, the scammers instantly snatch your username, password, and any one-time passcodes.
How to Avoid: Never click the link. Citadel, and other legitimate financial institutions, will never text or call you unexpectedly to demand personal information or login codes. Always ignore/delete these messages and log in directly through your official banking app or website.
Prime Day & Travel Scams
With major mid-summer shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and peak vacation travel happening simultaneously, fraudsters love to try and capitalize on your shopping habits or travel plans.
Red Flags to Watch Out For: Look out for unexpected text alerts regarding "unauthorized purchases" on your Amazon account, or malicious social media/digital ads offering impossibly cheap airline mile packages and vacation rentals. If it’s too good to be true, it most likely is.
The Scam: These messages use both panic (a fake $500 charge) and excitement (a cheap flight) to get you to quickly hand over your credit card details or bank account numbers on a fraudulent payment page.
How to Avoid: If you want to check a purchase history or a travel deal, do not use the contact information provided in a random text. Go directly to your official Amazon account or your travel provider (direct airline or hotel website) to verify legitimate communications and offers.
Summer Employment Scams
Whether you are a student looking for a seasonal gig or a professional seeking flexible, remote summer work, job seekers remain a top target for cybercriminals. Scammers will often use sophisticated AI to post fake listings on legitimate job boards or contact you directly about “high paying remote opportunities.”
Red Flags to Watch Out For: Receiving an unsolicited job offer for a position you never applied for, or for a job that promises unusually high pay for minimal hours (such as vague data-entry or mystery shopping roles).
The Scam: The fake employer sends a fictitious check to buy home office equipment, then asks you to wire the leftover funds back via a cash app or cryptocurrency. When the fake check inevitably bounces, you are left responsible for the lost money. They may also use the onboarding process to steal your Social Security number and banking details.
How to Avoid: Legitimate companies will never send you a check and ask you to wire funds back, nor will they handle official hiring through unsecure messaging apps like WhatsApp. Always go directly to the company’s official website to verify open positions.
What to Do If You've Been Targeted
If you are a Citadel member and believe you have accidentally shared your account information, clicked a suspicious link, or interacted with a fraudulent employer, complete the following:
Lock Your Cards: Use the card controls tool in your Online & Mobile Banking app to turn your debit or credit cards off instantly.
Contact Us Immediately: Call our Member Care team at 800-666-0191 or visit a local branch so we can help secure your accounts.
Slow Down & Stay Alert: Scammers rely on panic. Take a moment to verify all communications from your financial institution and stay alert for other possible scams.
