Scammers don’t take snow days. They don’t take holidays, and they definitely don’t care that you’re busy juggling work, family, and everything else that comes with life in Northeast Pennsylvania. In fact, the busier and more distracted you are, the more effective their tactics become.

Fraud has been climbing steadily across the country, and NEPA is no exception. The schemes are getting more sophisticated, more personalized, and harder to spot, especially as scammers leverage artificial intelligence and publicly available personal data to craft messages that look and sound completely legitimate.

At Choice One Community Credit Union, protecting our members is a core part of our mission. Here are seven of the most active scam categories we’re seeing in early 2026, along with exactly what to do if you encounter them.

1. The “Bank Fraud Alert” Text Message Scam

You get a text that looks like it’s from your bank or credit union. It says something like: “Suspicious activity detected on your account. Reply YES to confirm this was you, or call this number immediately.” The message uses your financial institution’s name. It might even include the last four digits of your account or card number.

Here’s what’s actually happening: the scammer is fishing for a response. If you reply or call that number, they’ll walk you through a “verification process” designed to steal your login credentials, account numbers, or one-time passcodes. Once they have that information, they can drain your account or lock you out entirely.

How to protect yourself:

• Never respond to unsolicited text messages about your accounts.
• Don’t call phone numbers provided in suspicious texts.
• Instead, call the number on the back of your debit or credit card, or contact your financial institution directly.
• Choice One will never pressure you to act immediately, click a link, provide a code, or provide any other sensitive financial or account information via text message or email.

2. AI-Generated Voice Scams (“Voice Cloning”)

This is one of the most unsettling developments in fraud. Scammers are using AI tools to clone the voices of family members, friends, or even your employer. They call you, or leave a voicemail, sounding exactly like someone you trust, and ask you to send money, buy gift cards, or wire funds for an “emergency.”

The technology is disturbingly good. A few seconds of audio from a social media video is enough for AI to generate a convincing voice clone. The call might say your grandchild is in trouble, your boss needs you to handle something urgently, or a family member is stranded and needs immediate help.

How to protect yourself:

• Establish a family code word that only trusted members know. If someone calls claiming to be family in distress, ask for the code word.
• Hang up and call the person directly at their known number.
• Be skeptical of any call that demands immediate financial action, no matter how convincing the voice sounds.
• Limit the amount of personal audio and video you share publicly on social media.

3. Auto Loan and Vehicle Purchase Scams

With many people shopping for vehicles online, scammers have moved into the auto marketplace. Common schemes include fake vehicle listings on social media and classified sites, phishing emails disguised as loan pre-approval offers, and scammers posing as sellers who demand payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency before you ever see the vehicle.

Some particularly sophisticated scams involve cloned dealership websites that look identical to the real thing, complete with inventory listings, financing calculators, and customer chat. The goal is to collect personal and financial information during a fake “loan application.”

How to protect yourself:

• Only apply for auto loans through verified lenders. If you’re a Choice One member, apply directly online or by calling our team.
• Never wire money or send gift cards for a vehicle purchase. No legitimate seller accepts payment in gift cards.
• Verify dealership websites by checking the URL carefully. Look for misspellings or unusual domain extensions.
• If a deal seems too good to be true, a 2024 vehicle for $5,000 below market value, it almost certainly is.

4. Tax Season Phishing and IRS Impersonation

Tax season is prime time for scammers. As we move into spring, expect a wave of emails, phone calls, and texts claiming to be from the IRS, state tax agencies, or tax preparation services. These messages typically threaten legal action, arrest, or benefit suspension unless you provide personal information or make an immediate payment.

The IRS has been clear: they do not initiate contact via email, text message, or social media to request personal or financial information. They do not threaten arrest or demand payment by gift card. Any communication that does this is a scam, full stop.

How to protect yourself:

• The IRS will always send official notices by U.S. mail first.
• Never click links in emails or texts claiming to be from the IRS.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the IRS directly at irs.gov.
• File your taxes early to reduce the window for someone to file a fraudulent return using your information.
• Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports during tax season.

5. Peer-to-Peer Payment Scams (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App)

Peer-to-peer payment platforms like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App are fast, convenient, and if you’re not careful, nearly impossible to reverse once a payment is sent. Scammers exploit this by posing as buyers, sellers, or even your own financial institution.

A common version: someone “accidentally” sends you money via Zelle and then asks you to send it back. The original payment was made from a stolen account, and when the real account holder reports the fraud, the money gets clawed back from you, leaving you out of whatever you “returned.”

How to protect yourself:

• Only send money to people you know and trust personally.
• Never send money to “return” an unexpected payment. Contact your bank or credit union to report it instead.
• Choice One offers Zelle through our online and mobile banking. If you receive a suspicious payment, contact us before taking any action.
• Treat peer-to-peer payments like cash. Once sent, recovery is difficult.

6. Online Marketplace and Social Media Shopping Scams

Whether it’s Facebook Marketplace, Instagram shops, or sponsored ads on your feed, online marketplace scams are everywhere. Fake stores run “limited-time sales” on products that never arrive. Social media ads redirect to cloned retail sites that harvest your credit card information. And sellers on local marketplaces sometimes demand deposits before showing up, then disappear.

How to protect yourself:

• Research any unfamiliar online store before purchasing. Look for reviews, check the domain registration age, and search the company name followed by “scam.”
• Use a credit card for online purchases, not a debit card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protections and limit your liability.
• If a social media ad seems too good to be true, go directly to the brand’s official website instead of clicking the ad link.
• For local marketplace transactions, meet in a public place and never wire money or use gift cards.

7. Jury Duty & Arrest Warrant Scams

This is a high-pressure tactic designed to trigger immediate panic. Scammers pose as local law enforcement or Luzerne County court officials, claiming you have missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued for your arrest. To make it more intimidating, they may even claim they are “monitoring” your location to pressure you into staying on the line.

The goal is to keep you in a state of fear so you don’t stop to think. They will insist that the only way to “clear” the warrant and avoid jail time is to pay a fine immediately. They often demand you withdraw cash to deposit into a Bitcoin machine (kiosk) or purchase several gift cards while staying on the phone with them.

How to protect yourself:

• Understand court procedures. The courts will never call or mail you to demand immediate payment over the phone for missed jury duty.

• Verify the payment method. No legitimate law enforcement agency or government office will ever ask you to pay a fine using Bitcoin, wire transfers, or gift cards. These are the universal tools of scammers.

• Choice One staff are your allies. If someone on the phone tells you to “not draw attention to yourself” or to keep your transaction a secret from our tellers, this is a major red flag.

• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not use the “call back” number they provide. Instead, call your local police department or the courthouse using a verified number from an official government website to check your status.

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam or that your financial information has been compromised, act quickly:

• Contact Choice One immediately. We can freeze your accounts, issue new cards, and help you secure your information.
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports through any of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
• Change your passwords for online banking, email, and any account that may be compromised.
• Monitor your accounts closely for unauthorized transactions over the following 30–60 days.

Staying Ahead of Fraud Starts With Awareness

The most effective defense against fraud isn’t a product or a tool; it’s awareness. When you know what scams look like, you’re far less likely to fall for them. And when your entire community is informed, scammers have a much harder time operating.

At Choice One Community Credit Union, we take fraud prevention seriously. We monitor member accounts for suspicious activity, provide fraud education year-round, provide fraud prevention tools like CardHub®, and partner with GreenPath Financial Wellness to give our members access to free financial counseling. If something doesn’t feel right, whether it’s a text, a call, or an online transaction, trust your instincts and contact us. We’d much rather investigate a false alarm than have to help you recover from a real one.

Choice One Community Credit Union serves those who live, work, or worship in Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. This article is for informational purposes only. If you believe you are a victim of fraud, contact your financial institution and local law enforcement immediately.

FAQ Section

Q: Will Choice One ever call or text me asking for my account information?

No. Choice One Community Credit Union will never contact you via phone, text, or email to ask for your full account number, Social Security number, PIN, or online banking password. If you receive such a request claiming to be from us, it is a scam. Contact us directly.

Q: What should I do if I accidentally gave personal information to a scammer?

Contact Choice One immediately so we can help secure your accounts. Then file a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and change passwords for all potentially compromised accounts.

Q: How do I freeze my credit to prevent identity theft?

You can place a credit freeze for free with each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name and can be temporarily lifted when you need to apply for legitimate credit.

Q: Does Choice One offer any fraud protection tools?

Yes. Our mobile and online banking platforms include real-time transaction alerts so you can spot unauthorized activity immediately. Click here to learn more about CardHub®. For additional support, our partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness provides free financial counseling.