Security Tips

Security Tips

Recent breaches in the news

The media has covered a number of recent cyberattacks hitting companies such as Workday, Pandora, Farmers Insurance, Google and now TransUnion. These incidents are reported to impact millions of U.S. Consumers. GTE Financial is actively monitoring this trend and is here to help keep your information and money secure.

Now is the time to safeguard your credit and identity with a Go Premium Checking Account for just $4.95 per month. Fully enroll in all your GTE Secure benefits, in just a few clicks.

Navigating the grey: tips to spot and stop fraud

Romance scams

Looking for love online? Protect your heart and wallet. Romance scams can happen to anyone, anytime, and are designed to manipulate emotions.

Red flags to watch for:

  • Rapid escalation of emotional intimacy
  • Refusal to meet or video chat
  • Requests to move conversations off-platform
  • Urgent or repeated requests for money or gift cards
  • Claims of wealth or needing help with inheritance/investments

Protect yourself:

  • Never send money or share financial info with someone you haven’t met in person
  • Verify identities using reverse image searches or social media consistency
  • Report suspicious activity to your bank, law enforcement, and the FTC
  • Use tools like transaction alerts and fraud monitoring
  • Check accounts daily – Federal law gives you some protection against fraud but only if you report unauthorized transactions within 60 days from when they first appear on your statement. The sooner you report it, the better your chances of getting your money back. GTE extends its business members 7 days to report unauthorized transactions from when they appear on your statement. 

Account takeover

Imagine a stranger walking into your house with your keys – that’s what happens when cybercriminals steal your login credentials. Once inside, attackers can steal your money, impersonate you, or lock you out of your accounts.

How it happens:

  • Phishing emails trick you into giving up passwords
  • Weak or reused passwords are easy to crack
  • Data breaches expose your info on the dark web
  • Imposters pretending to be a credit union employee

Protect yourself:

  • Use strong, unique passwords
  • Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA)
  • Watch for suspicious emails or links
  • Never share confidential information – GTE will never ask for your debit card PIN, one-time verification codes, or passwords
  • Business accounts usually don’t have the same protections, so it's even more important to monitor them closely.

Need help?

If you think you’ve been targeted, let us know, we’re here to help, confidentially. 
Contact us today: 813.871.2690
Report fraud:

Reporting fraud to the FTC and IC3 helps consumers protect themselves and others by contributing to investigations, tracking scam trends, and enabling law enforcement to take action against criminals. It also creates an official record, supports public education, and empowers victims, even if no money is lost. 

This information is provided for educational purposes only. GTE Financial does not guarantee that following these recommendations will prevent all fraud.

Fraud prevention

Your safety is our top priority

GTE Financial is committed to protecting your identity and money with our products and services. To see examples of known scams, click here.

What you can do to stay safe

  • Be cautious with unexpected inbound emails, calls, or texts. If something feels off, it probably is.
  • From time-to-time, GTE Financial will reach out to members.
  • However, if someone contacts you, as a best practice, never share personal details, account numbers, or login codes over the phone, text, or email—even if the request sounds urgent and legitimate.
  • Instead, verify first. If you receive an unexpected call, hang up and dial GTE Financial back at our official number: 813.871.2690 or 888.871.2690 (or the number on the back of your card).
  • If you get a suspect email that looks a bit off (perhaps the logo is slightly wrong, there are typos or the sender is a random address), don’t click on any links or supply any information.
  • Report anything suspicious immediately. If you’re unsure, let us know right away—we’re here to help.

How to limit your exposure

  • Open a Go Premium Checking Account with GTE Secure benefits that protect your identity, credit, and accounts.
  • Consider opening a GTE Credit Card with zero liability on fraudulent activity. This is a great payment option to have on-hand to help ensure your checking (cash) is not affected by fraud.
  • Monitor your credit reports regularly. With a Go Premium Checking Account, you have access to credit reports as well as monitoring services with notifications.
  • Set up account alerts in GTE’s Online Banking and Mobile App to be informed of unusual account activity and transaction details.
  • In the Mobile App, you can self-serve an instant card replacement for a lost, stolen and compromised card.  All GTE Financial locations also have instant issue card replacement, and we can mail you a new card as well.
  • If you have misplaced your card, simply use the ‘on and off’ toggle in the Mobile App to ensure your card is locked down until you find it.
  • Some members leave their card(s) in ‘off’ status until they plan to make a purchase – when you turn your card on, it will be instantly available.
  • Review you account activity daily or weekly and report any unusual transactions immediately.
  • Try to limit where you store your card information online and try to only utilize trusted sites with verified checkout.
  • When using Zelle, pay special attention to text and emails you receive and read them carefully before sending money. 
  • If you have to use a check, do not provide a blank check to anyone and keep your checks in a stored, secure location.
  • Overall, never send money to someone you do not know or trust.
  • Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication on email and financial accounts.
  • And, don’t forget to update your passwords regularly! This is probably the number one way to protect your banking and personal information.

Fraud warning:

Fraud and scams are at an all-time high. Be wary of suspicious calls claiming to be from or partnered with GTE Financial. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.

Remember - never give personal or financial data over the phone unless you initiated the phone call. Call GTE Financial at 813.871.2690 if you believe you have been a victim of fraud.

Fraud recovery

What to do if you've been a victim of fraud

Your account has just been compromised and fraud has occurred. GTE Financial has your back! Our team is committed to be with you every step of the way from submitting the claim to the resolution. Click the items below to learn more.

Your debit or credit card number was stolen or used without your authorization.

 

How do I submit my claim?
Go to online banking under security option select claims center. Follow the simple steps and submit.

 

How long does it take for this claim to be resolved?
Some claims are settled within 10 business days after submitting the claim; however, claims can take upwards of 90 days to be finalized.

 

How will I be notified?
Claim status can be viewed within the claim center through online banking.  You will also receive communication through phone, mail, or email.

 

When will I get a new card?
You can get a new virtual card immediately through our mobile app.  If you would like a physical card, stop at any Community Financial Center for an Instant Issue card.  Otherwise, your new cards will arrive in the mail within 7-10 business days.

 

What about my money, when do I get that back?
In most cases, you will have use of the funds by receiving immediate provisional (temporary) credit after submitting your claim.   Otherwise, you will receive the credit no later than 10 business days after submitting the claim or a letter from the card risk team with resolution information.

 

What if I have automatic payments set up on my card that has the fraud?
Once you receive your new card (Virtual or physical), you will need to set up the autopayments to the new card. 

These are electronic debits that have been posted to your account.  In order for this to happen, fraudsters have to have your account number and routing information, as well as a way to verify microdeposits when linking external accounts.  Basically, the fraudster has access to your online banking!

 

How do I submit my claim?
Contact GTE immediately and report the activity. You will be asked to complete a Statement of unauthorized Debit form. This is available in Online banking in the Everything Else Menu > Resources > Forms.

 

How long does it take for this claim to be resolved?
Most claims are settled within 10 business days after submitting the claim.

 

How will I be notified?
You will be notified through phone, mail, or email.

 

What happens to my account(s) and online banking?
Online banking will be restricted, and impacted accounts will need to be closed and new accounts established. In addition, new online banking credentials will be created. This is your opportunity to create a new password. Do not reuse the same password that was previously on the account. Remember to re-route your direct deposit and any automated debits/bill payments to the new accounts.

 

How will I know my new account is safe?
Review the security features available in online banking and set up text alerts for logins, balance changes, password resets, etc. This is a great way to protect your account and be more involved if there are irregularities moving forward. We strongly encourage members to stay away from aggregator apps. Aggregators are apps that can be used to store your GTE login information, as well as, any other financial institution accounts you may have.  Some examples of these app types are Plaid, Finicity, and Intuit. If you access your account from a public computer, be sure to delete the cache and cookies before signing off.

 

What about my money, when do I get that back?
In most cases, you will have use of the funds by receiving provisional (temporary) credit after submitting your claim within 5 business days.

Your physical paper check(s) was stolen or altered and has cleared your account.

 

How do I submit my claim?
Contact GTE immediately and report the activity. You will be asked to complete a Statement of Unauthorized Share Draft (check) form or report Forgery based on the situation.

 

How long does this claim take to be resolved?
Claims can take upwards of 90 days to be finalized.

 

How will I be notified?
You will be notified through phone, mail, or email.

 

What about my money, when do I get that back?
In most cases, you will have use of the funds by receiving provisional (temporary) credit after submitting your claim within 3-5 business days.

 

What happens to my account(s)?
Impacted accounts will need to be closed and new accounts established. A set of new checks will be ordered and mailed to you directly! Remember to re-route your direct deposit and any automated debits/bill payments to the new accounts.

A person-to-person transfer was completed without your authorization, or you are the victim of a scam, and your online banking has been compromised which resulted in a person-to-person transfer from your account. 

 

How do I submit my claim?
Contact GTE immediately and report the activity.

 

How long does this claim take to be resolved?
Claims can take upwards of 90 days to be finalized.

 

How will I be notified?
You will be notified through phone, mail, or email.

 

What about my money, when do I get that back?
In most cases, you will have use of the funds by receiving provisional (temporary) credit after submitting your claim within 3-10 business days.

 

What happens to my account(s)?
Depending on the circumstances, Zelle privileges could be permanently revoked/suspended or new accounts will need to be established.

How can make sure no one accesses my accounts and takes my money?
If you have reason to believe you might be a victim of identity theft, contact GTE immediately. We will review your account(s) and have you set a verbal PIN to prevent unauthorized account access over the phone or in person.  

 

We also recommend that you: 

  1. Contact any one of the credit bureaus and request an ID theft alert be placed on your credit file. They will communicate with the other credit bureaus on your behalf.
  2. Obtain a copy of your credit report and review all lines of credit to ensure that there are no unrecognized items on your bureau.
  3. Contact the Federal Trade Commission to file an Identity Theft Claim so that we can remove any unwanted items from your credit bureau.
  4. Contact your local police department to file a formal report.