December 5, 2025
We are receiving reports of an increased volume of fraud schemes targeting personal banking members. Amidst this uptick in fraudulent activity, it’s critical to ensure you understand how to identify the signs of a scam and safeguard your information from fraud.
What is taking place?
Fraudsters are altering their phone number to hide their identity and pose as ESL Federal Credit Union. For example, fraudsters are spoofing the ESL phone number so the call appears to come from 585.336.1000; however, the caller is actually a fraudster pretending to be ESL. In recent cases, the fraudsters are calling members repeatedly until someone picks up the phone. It’s important to note that at ESL, we will never call our members numerous times in a row. Once the conversation begins, fraudsters typically claim they are an ESL employee who is calling with regard to a credit or debit card, and they share a partial card number.
Fraudsters then use this tactic to convince members to share personal information, such as their full card number, login credentials, and any additional security information. Next, they leverage this information to gain access to your account, control of your password and one-time use passcodes, and make unauthorized purchases.
It is important to remember that ESL will never contact you via an unsolicited phone call to ask for your personal information.
Safeguarding your information
Once you understand what to look for, it becomes easier to spot the signs of a scam. Review the following information so you may stay one step ahead of fraudsters.
- ESL will never contact you via an unsolicited phone call or text message and ask you to share sensitive information, such as your full or partial card number, login credentials (username, password, or one-time use passcodes), or the answers to your security questions. If you receive a call or text message asking for this information, do not act on the request.
- It’s also crucial to remember that ESL will never ask you to verify information by clicking on a link in a text message or email.
When in doubt, do not engage with the communication. Ensuring the safety of our member information is of the utmost priority. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a phone call, text message, email or letter you have received, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly by dialing 585.336.1000.
