Dear Fraudster: An Open Letter to the Person Who Tried to Ruin My Holidays

Dear Fraudster,  

I see you, crafting your sly email with a link to “members1st.com” instead of “members1st.org.” How clever you think you are. You tell me it’s urgent that I act fast and pay a fee. But I won’t click. Your threats have no power over me.

Then you call—spoofing the number to make it look like it’s coming from my credit union. What’s that? You want payment in gift cards? No way! Members 1st warned me about this. What else do you want—Netflix password, Social Security number, routing number and account info? Ha, please. Excuse me while I hang up and call the organization directly using the number listed on its real website.

You thought you’d steal my money right before the holidays, but I’ve learned your ways, you sneaky fraudster. Members 1st has taught me all the tips and tricks:

While you’re busy plotting, my credit union is working behind the scenes to outsmart you. They’re layering on new security measures faster than you can type “urgent payment needed,” and they keep members like me in the loop with fraud-fighting tips and tools. Speaking of tools, the card controls feature gives my accounts extra protection, all I had to do was turn it on. And the new advanced authentication system? Amazing! Whenever I make certain changes, I get a secure link via text or email, so I know it’s really them, not you and your lies. 

But just in case one of your scams does slip through, Members 1st made sure I know exactly what to do: 

So, nice try, fraudster, but the joke’s on you. You can take your fake links, spoofed calls and holiday scams elsewhere. I’ll be too busy sipping cider, staying fraud-free and celebrating with my real friends—and my real credit union.

Sincerely, 

Not Your Next Victim