Fraud Alerts
Fraud Alert September 2, 2025
A reminder to check your accounts daily, just to be certain nothing is awry. Fraudsters continue to evolve their tactics all the time. Just as you cover the keypad when entering your PIN, lock your doors at night, or set your car alarm when parked, make sure your accounts are safe and secure as well. You work hard for your money and we work hard to help protect it and make it grow—together we are a formidable team.
Simply checking your accounts, whether through your AIM app or through online banking, only takes a moment and can help keep your information, cards, and money from getting hijacked by nefarious individuals. We continue to partner with Velera and Shazam as additional layers of security for all of our members, but it truly is you and your knowledge of your balances that has proven to be the best way to stop bad actors looking to steal from you.
As always, we are just a phone call away here at the credit union if you have questions or concerns relating to your accounts or activity within them. Please, call us, to be safe and have greater peace of mind anytime you may need. We also encourage you to add the fraud alert numbers from the back of your card directly into your phone, as this will guarantee you 24/7/365 support if needed.
Fraud Alert July 30, 2025
As you know, deceptive practices and fraud are not merely limited to tech, such as emails, phone calls, and text messages. Recent storms and weather-related damage across the Midwest have given fraudsters the opportunity to take advantage of unsuspecting victims as individuals and communities clean-up storm damage. In our continual effort to keep you and AIM Credit Union safe, we have put together a few pointers in the event you are contacted about storm damage clean-up, repair, or replacement services:
1. Never pay upfront. Be wary of contractors or service providers who demand full payment or a large deposit before starting work.
2. Verify your insurance coverage. Contact your insurance company directly to understand the terms of your policy; don’t rely on a contractor to tell you what insurance does or does not cover. Oftentimes your insurance provider will help you coordinate repairs, do not be afraid to ask your agent for their assistance.
3. Be skeptical. Make sure you do your research on a contractor or company who flocks to the scene after a significant weather event before you allow them to start any work. Fraudsters often chase storms and the storm’s resulting damage, going from town-to-town, and are seldom heard from again. If possible, attempt to work locally…it is good for you and good for your community.
4. Check credentials. It’s best to do business with contractors who are licensed and insured. Remember to verify their credentials and vet them through resources such as the Better Business Bureau and trusted online rating services. Do your homework because spending a little time up front can save you hours—or months—of frustration, money, and work down the road.
5. Don’t rush. As with most scams, anyone using high-pressure tactics or promising immediate results is likely a scammer. We understand you want things back to what they were as soon as possible, but sometimes a little patience goes a long way.
Fraud Alert June 12, 2025
Credit union members nationwide have been receiving fake texts for nearly a year, purportedly from Shazam, indicating that a toll or tollway payment is due. This fraud has now appeared for the first time here at AIM and specifically references the state of Iowa. Please do not call the number provided or take any action from this text message. It is a scam. Simply delete it, block the sender’s number, and as always, please call us here at the credit union, text Shazam directly at 72718, or call the number on the back of your physical debit card if you have any questions. Thank you.
Fraud Alert June 6, 2025
It has come to our attention that some AIM members are receiving text messages about their debit cards being supposedly blocked, locked, and demanding a phone call. This is fraudulent and DO NOT CALL the number. All is ok with your debit card and like always, if you’ve questions, please call the credit union directly. Thank you for your vigilance and joining with us to keep your money and your credit union—AIM—safe.
Fraud Alert May 29, 2025
It has come to our attention, via our friends and partners in law enforcement, of a new form of fraud targeting AIM mortgage account holders. A postcard is being mailed that requests you to call a phone number regarding a purported “important matter” and do do so “as soon as possible”. This is completely false and not an AIM-generated communication. DO NOT CALL the provided phone number on the postcard, but please do alert us if you receive one of these communications so that we can continue to partner with law enforcement to stem this potential identity theft crime. Thank you for your diligence and for being a valued part of the AIM Family.
Fraud Alert April 17, 2025
A new form of fraud is being perpetrated and some of our very own AIM members have been targeted.
The fraudster uses a cloned phone number that matches one of our AIM Credit Union phone numbers (including our 800#) and indicates that they are calling to verify account information relating to a monetary transfer. They even use a first name that matches the name of our employees. Be aware that this is completely false and deceptive—we will never call you to verify your account information. Please hang up immediately and call us at either 563-585-3737 or 800-928-4328 to alert us so that we can assist in further keeping you, your money, and your credit union safe. Whenever in doubt, please just hang up and call us. Thank you again for your vigilance and keen awareness.
Fraud Alert January 28, 2025
In our ongoing and tireless effort to keep you, your money, and our credit union safe, we will update this page as new information becomes available to us regarding fraud and scams.
We have been alerted to a new phone scam that law enforcement is aware of and working to dismantle.
The fraudster’s incoming call will appear on your caller ID as being from law enforcement—typically a police department. The caller then indicates that you are to withdraw a sum of cash from your account and deposit it into a kiosk that they will provide the location of. This obviously is a scam. Please hang up immediately and let us know that you have been contacted by the fraudsters.
As always, do not take any action before speaking with someone here at the credit union. It’s is always best to simply hang up and protect yourself, knowing that AIM Credit Union is here for you. Thanks again for putting your trust in us.
Free Credit Report
Members are encouraged to check and monitor their personal credit report by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. You can further manage your credit reporting with Savvy Money through our online banking resource. If you have questions about the information on your credit report, please do not hesitate to contact AIM Credit Union. Regular credit report monitoring is key in identifying potential errors or fraud.
Common Identity Theft Q&A
Liability
Credit Card:
Generally, your liability is zero as long as you’ve been responsible with your card(s). Your liability is limited to a maximum of $50 per card.
Debit Card:
As a practical matter, as long as you’ve been responsible with your card(s), your liability is zero in most instances. The key in both situations is to inform AIM Credit Union if you suspect fraudulent charges may be occurring on your account.
Types of Identity Theft
Skimming:
Watch for irregular devices that may have been attached to the ATMs that might have a slightly different color over the card reader than the machine, or perhaps the ATM looks different than it did the last time you used it.
Spamming:
Sending unsolicited email indiscriminately to multiple mailings lists, individuals, or newsgroups.
Spoofing:
Creating a replica of a legitimate web page to fool you into submitting personal, financial or password data.
Phishing:
Luring victims to a fake web site through spam. Signs it may be a phishing attack:
- Email uses generic greeting (“Dear MasterCard Customer”)
- Refers to an urgent problem
- States your account will be shut down unless you reconfirm billing information
- Urges you to click a link within the message you weren’t expecting.
General Precautions
- Never give personal information to callers
- Safeguard wallets, purses, checkbooks and account statements – at home AND at work
- Review statements monthly (more often online)
- Don’t write passwords or PINs on back of cards
- Shred receipts, statements, cancelled checks
- Be aware of information shared on social media sites
- If you are being asked to pay in the form of cryptocurrency or gift cards, please hang up immediately and contact us here at the credit union
Know when you HAVE to give out your Social Security Number, and when you don’t
MUST give SSN
- Financial institutions
- Employers
- Income tax records
- Loan applications
- Credit bureau reports
- College records
May want to refuse
- Over the phone
- On club memberships
- As ID for store purchase
- As general identification
- On drivers license