Trending Financial Scams

"It seems like there’s a new financial scam every day. I’m glad there’s a place to keep track of them all."

Be alert, be careful, and be informed about what you can do.

At Clearview, your security is our priority. Scammers are constantly inventing new ways to trick people into giving away money or personal information. To help you stay informed, we’ve created this page to highlight the most recent financial scams affecting our members. Each scam listed below explains how it works, the red flags to watch for, and what you should do if you’re targeted. By learning about these schemes, you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your finances.

Remember: Clearview will never ask you to withdraw cash, wire money, provide your login credentials, or send gift cards to protect your account. If something doesn’t feel right, stop and call us directly at our official number. Check back often — we update this page as new financial scams arise.

What’s happening

We’ve seen a rise in scams where fraudsters call members pretending to be from a fraud monitoring company or even claim they are working with the FBI. They insist that Clearview, or another financial institution, is “stealing their money” and pressure members to urgently withdraw or wire funds to “protect” their accounts.

How the scam works

  • You receive a phone call from someone who claims to be from fraud prevention or law enforcement.
  • The caller says your money isn’t safe and instructs you to withdraw or wire large sums immediately.
  • They may tell you to say the withdrawal is for “home improvements” or another excuse — and not to share the real reason with the teller. Scammers sometimes direct victims to:
    • Hand over cash in parking lots or at their homes
    • Deposit money into Bitcoin machines
    • Place cash into vehicles or hand it off to a “courier”

Once the money leaves your account, it is quickly taken by scammers and nearly impossible to recover.

Red flags to watch for

  • You are told not to trust your financial institution.
  • A caller pressures you to act immediately and keep it a secret.
  • You are instructed to lie about why you are withdrawing funds.
  • You are asked to hand over cash to strangers, use a Bitcoin machine, or wire money for “safety.”

What you should do:

  1. Hang up immediately. Legitimate fraud departments and law enforcement will never ask you to withdraw cash, wire money, or buy cryptocurrency to “protect” your funds.
  2. Do not follow their instructions. Never hand over money to someone you don’t know or deposit funds into Bitcoin machines at someone else’s direction.
  3. Verify directly with Clearview. If you get a suspicious call, hang up and call us at 1-800-926-0003.
  4. Report the scam. Contact Clearview immediately

Scammers use fear, secrecy, and urgency to trick you into moving your money. 

What’s happening

Scammers are calling members and making it look like the call is coming from Clearview. They often “spoof” our phone number so Caller ID appears to be legitimate. Once you answer, the scammer pretends to be from Clearview and asks for your personal or account information.

How the scam works

  • A caller says your account is in danger and pressures you to act immediately.
  • The caller claims to be from Clearview’s fraud department or another official-sounding group.
  • They say there is a problem with your account and pressure you to “verify” details.
  • They may ask for your:
    • Online banking username and password
    • Debit or credit card number
    • Social Security number
    • One-time passcodes sent to your phone
  • Once you give this information, scammers use it to steal money or take over your accounts.

Red flags to watch for

  • You are asked to share sensitive information that Clearview will never request by phone.
  • Caller ID shows Clearview, but something about the conversation feels off.
  • The caller urges you not to hang up or call Clearview directly to clarify.

What you should do

  1. Hang up immediately if something doesn’t feel right.
  2. Call Clearview immediately at 1-800-926-0003 to confirm any account concerns.
  3. Never give out login credentials, one-time codes, or card numbers over the phone.

Scammers can make it look like Clearview is calling, but it isn’t us. Trust your instincts — if a call feels suspicious, hang up and call us directly.

What’s happening

Scammers are pressuring members to withdraw cash and deposit it into cryptocurrency ATMs or Bitcoin machines. Once money is converted into cryptocurrency, it cannot be recovered.

How the scam works

  • A scammer contacts you by phone, text, or online message.
  • They claim you owe money, are in legal trouble, or need to “protect” your funds.
  • They direct you to withdraw cash and feed it into a Bitcoin machine.
  • Once converted, the scammer immediately controls the cryptocurrency — and your money is gone.

Red flags to watch for

  • Being told to make a large cash withdrawal for unusual reasons.
  • Instructions to use a Bitcoin or cryptocurrency ATM.
  • A sense of urgency, secrecy, or coaching over the phone while you complete the transaction.

What you should do

  1. Stop immediately if anyone tells you to deposit cash into a Bitcoin machine.
  2. Remember: no government agency, company, or bank will ever ask for payment using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency.
  3. Call Clearview directly at 1-800-926-0003 before making any unusual withdrawal or payment.

If someone asks you to send money through a Bitcoin machine, it’s a scam. Always slow down, question unusual requests, and reach out to Clearview before acting.

What’s happening

Scammers are creating fake online relationships to trick members into sending money. These scams are highly emotional and can cause both financial and personal heartbreak.

How the scam works

  • A scammer meets you on a dating site, social media, messaging app, or "oops, wrong number" text.
  • They spend weeks or months building a “relationship” and gaining your trust.
  • Eventually, they ask for money — often for travel, medical emergencies, or urgent bills.
  • They may:
    • Send you a fake check and ask you to deposit it, then send part of the money back to them via Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App.
    • Tell you to buy large amounts of gift cards and share the codes.

When the check bounces, you are left responsible for the money you sent.

Red flags to watch for

  • A new online relationship that becomes serious very quickly.
  • Requests for money or financial help, specifically in the form of person-to-person payment apps or gift cards.
  • Excuses for why the person can’t meet you in person.
  • Being asked to receive a deposit and forward money elsewhere.

What you should do

  • Never send money, gift cards, or payments to someone you’ve only met online.
  • Be cautious of relationships that move too fast or involve secrecy from your family and friends.
  • If you suspect fraud, stop communication and contact Clearview immediately.

Real love will never ask for money. Romance scammers prey on emotions — protecting your finances means protecting your heart too.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you believe you’ve been targeted by financial scams or have already shared money or information, don’t panic. Taking quick action can limit the damage and help protect your accounts.

1. Contact Clearview immediately

  • Call us at 1-800-926-0003.
  • We can review your accounts, stop suspicious activity, and guide you through next steps.

2. Stop communication with the scammer

  • Hang up the phone.
  • Block text numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles connected to the scam.

3. Report financial scams

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC): reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov
  • Local Law Enforcement: File a police report if money or personal information was taken.

4. Protect your accounts and identity

  • Change your online banking and email passwords right away.
  • Place fraud alerts or credit freezes with the major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax).
  • Monitor your accounts and credit reports for any unusual activity.

You are not alone, financial scams happen to people of all ages and backgrounds. The faster you act, the better chance we have of protecting your money and stopping fraudsters in their tracks.