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February 26, 2025
Scam Alert! What You Need to Know About Imposter Scams & More
In today’s digital age, scams are more sophisticated and prevalent than ever. From imposter scams to fake tech support to phony text messages, scammers are constantly devising new ways to trick you. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Here’s what you need to know about common scams and staying safer from fraud.
How to spot a scam
Scammers use creative calls, texts, computer pop-ups and emails to trick you into giving them money, personal information or access to your computer. Watch out for red flags that give a scammer away, including:
- Asking for your PIN, password or security codes
- Requesting remote access to your computer
- Creating a sense of urgency through threats of arrest or other consequences
- Offering quick-fix solutions to a supposedly dire problem
- Refusing to allow you off the call to verify the information
- Insisting that you wire them money or purchase gift cards
Being aware of these common signs of fraud can help you be proactive in ensuring your banking and personal information remain secure.
Identify imposter scams
Have you heard about imposter scams? In these scams, someone pretends to be a person or entity you would typically trust — a government agency, a police officer, a business, a financial institution or even a family member or friend. The scammer’s goal is to con you out of your money or personal information.
According to the Consumer Sentinel by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), imposter scams were the second most common category among the 5.5 million scams reported in 2023.* Available data as of September 30, 2024, show that one in five people reporting imposter scams lost money, with people aged 70 and older experiencing a much higher median loss. If you have elderly family members or friends who may not be familiar with online and phone scams, we recommend staying in regular contact with them. Take time to explain the risks of common scams and discuss the importance of keeping their personal information safe.
Tell tech support scams to scram
In this fraudulent scheme, scammers pose as technical support representatives from reputable companies, such as Microsoft® or Apple®, to deceive you into believing that your computer has serious issues. They often use phone calls, computer pop-ups or emails to contact you. The scammers might use technical jargon to convince you that your computer is infected or has other problems. Then, they may ask you to grant them remote access to your computer, provide personal information or pay for unnecessary services.
To protect yourself, never give remote access to your computer to unsolicited callers and always verify the legitimacy of any tech support contact. Learn more about tech support scams from the FTC.
Stop smishing scams
Text messaging scams (called smishing) are one of the most common ways in which fraudsters attempt to steal your information. Have you ever received a random message asking you to accept your sizeable contest winnings?
Another common scam message includes a request to click a link to track a package or pay an overdue toll bill, but really, those links are fraudulent and will steal your information and money. Always be skeptical of any unsolicited text messages you receive and avoid clicking on unexpected links. Learn more about protecting yourself from smishing scams.
To learn more about other common scams and how to avoid them, visit our Education Page and sort by security education.
*Consumer Sentinel by FTC. Data Book 2023, Updated November 8, 2024. Accessed January 31, 2025.
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How to Find Your Routing & Account Numbers
When you make a payment online, by phone or on a mobile device, you may be asked for our routing number and your checking account number. Credit unions and banks use these numbers to identify accounts and make sure money gets where it’s supposed to be. You’ll also need to provide your routing and checking account numbers for:
- Direct deposits
- Electronic checks
- Military allotments
- Wire transfers
Where to Find Your Routing & Checking Account Numbers
Your personal checks include both our routing number and your account number, as shown on the Grow check example below.
Don’t have a Grow check? No worries.
Visit any Grow store and ask for a Direct Deposit Form. It lists both your routing number and checking account number.
Making a Loan Payment
When it comes to making payments, we try to make it as painless as possible to pay your loan every month. We have several different ways to pay, including convenient online options.
Pay Online
You have two ways to pay online by transferring funds from another bank or credit union.
- Grow Online Banking (Preferred payment method for any loan)
This is the simplest way to pay your loan. You can make one-time payments or set up automatic recurring payments in Grow Online Banking. Once you log in, select “Transfer/Payments” from the menu. If you’re not enrolled in Grow Online Banking yet, you can set up your account in just a few minutes.
Log In
- Debit Card or ACH (Available for auto, personal loans and HELOCs)
Note: ACH and debit card payments are not available for credit cards or most mortgages, except HELOCs.
We accept ACH payments with no additional fees, consumer Mastercard® and Visa® debit cards with a convenience fee of $4.95, or commercial Mastercard® and Visa® debit cards with a convenience fee of 2.95% of the payment amount. To get started with an online ACH or debit card payment, select Pay Now below.
Pay Now
Pay by Mail
You can also pay any Grow loan by check through the mail. Please remember to include your account number and Grow loan number on the check. (For credit card payments, please do not write your 16-digit credit card number on the check, which can cause a delay in processing the payment.)
Address for auto, credit card, personal loan and HELOC payments:
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 75466
Chicago, IL 60675-5466Address for personal first or second mortgages and home equity payments:
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 11733
Newark, NJ 07101-4733You Are About To Leave GrowFinancial.org
At certain places on this site, there are links to other websites. Grow Financial Federal Credit Union does not endorse, approve, represent, certify or control those external sites. The credit union does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or accurate sequencing of the information contained on them. You will not be represented by Grow Financial Federal Credit Union if you enter into a transaction. Privacy and security policies may differ from those practiced by the credit union. Click CONTINUE if you wish to proceed.