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FRAUD TIPS
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SCAM OF THE WEEK: Don’t Reward These Scammers
JANUARY 29, 2026 | Knowbe4.com
In this week’s scam, cybercriminals are targeting Verizon customers. Verizon is a cellular service provider that recently experienced a major network outage. You receive a text message that appears to be from Verizon, claiming you have expired reward points to redeem. The text includes a link and urges you to select it immediately to claim your points. You may think this message is related to the recent network outage and be tempted to follow the instructions.However, this is actually a smishing, or text phishing, scam! Cybercriminals are exploiting the recent news stories about a mobile outage to trick you. If you select the link in the message, you will be taken to a fake website and asked to enter your financial information to redeem your reward. But if you enter your banking details, the scammers will steal them!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a smishing scam:
- Never select links in unexpected texts, even if the message appears to be from an official source, such as your mobile carrier.
- If you want to check whether you really have an account credit or reward, open the official Verizon app on your phone or log in to their official website.
- Be very suspicious if a website asks for your credit card number or bank details to issue you a credit or reward.
Staying Alert is The Best Defense
At Explorers Credit Union, we’re here to help you navigate threats like these with confidence. If something feels off, trust your instincts—and remember, you can always reach out to our team before taking action. We believe in protecting your journey, every step of the way.
