The Curious Case of the Vanishing Savings

4-minute read

It started with a text message.

“Your account has been flagged for suspicious activity. Click here to verify.”

Maria was rushing between errands when she saw it. The link looked legit. The message even used her credit union’s name. She clicked.

Within hours, her savings were gone.

What Happened?

Maria had fallen victim to a phishing scam—a tactic where fraudsters impersonate trusted institutions to steal personal information. The link led to a fake login page. When she entered her credentials, the scammers gained access to her account and quickly transferred funds.

This kind of fraud is more common than you think. In 2024 alone, Americans reported $12.5 billion in losses to fraud, a 25% increase over the previous year¹. And phishing was the #1 reported internet crime according to the FBI².

How Could It Have Been Prevented?

Maria’s story is fictional—but the threat is real. Here’s how you can protect yourself:

• Pause before you click. If something feels off, trust your gut.
• Verify the source. Contact your credit union directly using a known phone number or website.
• Enable multi-factor authentication. It adds an extra layer of security.
• Monitor your accounts regularly. The sooner you spot suspicious activity, the faster you can act.

Who’s Most at Risk?

• Young adults (20–29) reported losing money to fraud more often than any other age group—44% of those who filed a report³.
• Older adults (70+), while less likely to report a loss, suffered higher median losses—up to $1,650 per incident³.

Bank transfers and cryptocurrency were the most common payment methods used in scams, accounting for over $3.5 billion in losses³.

What U.S. Eagle Is Doing to Protect You

Behind the scenes, we’re constantly working to keep your information safe. That includes:

• Following FTC Safeguards Rule requirements to ensure our systems and vendors meet strict security standards.
• Training our staff to recognize and respond to threats.
• Using encryption and secure authentication to protect your data.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and passwords—it’s about awareness. The more you know, the safer you are. So next time you get a suspicious message, remember Maria’s story. One click can make all the difference.

1 https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/03/new-ftc-data-show-big-jump-reported-losses-fraud-125-billion-2024

2 https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-annual-internet-crime-report

3 https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/fraud-identity-theft-other-scams-reg-alert.html