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Fraud Alerts in the Greater Rochester Community

Updated November 30, 2022

Be on alert for fraudulent phishing text messages claiming your ESL banking details have been updated.

We are receiving reports from residents in the Greater Rochester area who received a phishing text message. The text is asking to click a link to verify a change in account details or to confirm a recent transaction. Do not click the link in these text messages! These are examples of a phishing scam, as ESL will not ask you to click links in text messages to verify information or ask for any personal information.

phishing text message examples

If you clicked on the link in the email or have any questions about a call, text, or piece of mail you received, please call our Fraud Team directly at 585.336.1140.

Be on alert for fraudulent phishing emails claiming your ESL account has been closed.

We are receiving reports from members that emails from noreply@timewarnercable.com are being sent to members claiming that their ESL account has been closed and they need to click one of the two links in the email to verify. Do not click the links in this email! This is a phishing scam, as ESL will not ask you to click links in emails to verify information or ask for any personal information.

If you clicked on the link in the email or have any questions about a call, text, or piece of mail you received, please call our Fraud Team directly at 585.336.1140.

Be on alert for fraudulent text messages claiming your ESL account has been temporarily restricted.

We are receiving reports from members that text messages are being sent to members claiming that their ESL account has been temporarily restricted and you need to click a link to verify. Do not click the link in this text message! This is a scam, as ESL will not ask you to click links in text messages to verify information or ask for any personal information.

Text message screen shot with the following fraudulent message: 'FRM: ESL FCU MSG: We've restricted your ESL account temporarily, For your protection Pls Verify now: [link]'

If you clicked on the link in the text message or have any questions about a call, text, or piece of mail you received, please call our Fraud Team directly at 585.336.1140.

Be on the alert for fraudsters spoofing the ESL Securlock process.

Fraudsters are spoofing (masquerading as a trusted entity) the ESL Securlock process notifying members of potentially fraudulent activity on their debit cards. Be on the lookout for:

  • Use of the same case number (4457 has been a commonly used case number)
  • Asking the member to confirm the last 10 digits of their ESL debit card. ESL would never ask for this!
  • ESL and the ESL Fraud Prevention and Investigation Team will never send you a code that you will have to give to us.
  • If using Zelle, ensure you know the recipient you are sending funds to.

A reminder on how SecurLOCK works. If Fraud Prevention & Investigation suspects fraudulent activity on your account, you will receive one of the following:

  • Text message alert from 86975. Please note:
    • You may opt-out of text message alerts, by replying “Stop.”
    • If you would like to opt back in to text message alerts, please call 1.855.946.2710
  • Email alert from fraudservicecenter@fraud.esl.org
  • Automated phone call from 1.855.946.2710

If you receive a suspicious communication or have any questions about a call, text or piece of mail you receive, please call our Fraud Team directly at 585.336.1140.

Be on the alert for fake PIN mailers and automated calls from spoofed ESL phone numbers

We are receiving reports that ESL members are receiving fake mailers asking them to change their PIN, as well as calls from spoofed ESL phone numbers asking them to confirm that their debit/credit card has been added to a digital wallet.

Key tips to remember:

  1. Changing a PIN for an ESL ATM or Visa® Debit Card is done over the phone at 844.433.1140.
  2. ESL will never call you to confirm your debit/credit card has been added to a digital wallet.

If you receive a suspicious communication or have any questions about a call or piece of mail you receive, please call our Fraud Team directly at 585.336.1140.

Be on the alert for fraud when using ATMs.

ESL members: Never let anyone that you do not know make a transaction into or from your account, and never loan or give out your ATM/Debit card, PIN, and Online Banking login credentials.

We have seen increased activity around a scam that has fraudsters approaching people using ATMs and asking them to deposit checks into their accounts at the ATM. These checks are fraudulent or will bounce.

If you deposit one of these checks into your account, you are responsible for all of the money withdrawn from your account. Please don’t be a victim of fraud or an accomplice to this activity!

If you are approached by a potential fraudster, please contact local authorities. If you see suspicious activity on your account, please call our Fraud Team directly at 585.336.1140.