How USAA protects You
Learn about our 24/7 security and fraud monitoring and other ways we help you.
The STOP method can help protect you.
These steps can help you stay ahead of scammers.
- Stay cautious. Always be on alert when someone asks for information or money.
- Take your time. Scammers want to rush you. Slow down and think before you act.
- Only trust verified sources. Double-check information through trusted channels.
- Protect your info. Never share personal or financial details unless you're sure who you're dealing with.
Be careful with online job offers.
Scammers can create exciting and realistic job opportunities. Then they'll ask you to pay for training or equipment, promising to send you reimbursement check later. These checks often bounce, leaving you out the money.
The money mule scam
Other times, scammers use the “job” to have you transfer stolen money or goods.
Falling for a fake job listing
“I got a message on LinkedIn from a ‘recruiter’ at well-known tech company offering a remote position with a great salary. After I interviewed and they hired me, they sent a check to cover equipment costs.
I deposited the check and bought the equipment. But the check bounced, and the equipment never arrived. The recruiter and the company disappeared, leaving me unable to get my money back.”
Scammers will fake family emergencies.
Scammers pretend to be family members in danger or claim your loved one is in trouble. They use emotional manipulation and sometimes threats to make you act quickly without verifying the facts.
A family emergency scam example
“I got a call from someone claiming to be my grandson. He said he was in a serious car accident and needed money for bail immediately.
The caller sounded panicked, and although his voice seemed different, I didn't think twice. He begged me to wire the money right away and not to tell anyone.
I sent the money because I was worried. But I found out later my grandson was never in trouble.”
Watch out for scammers impersonating USAA.
They'll use texts, calls or emails.
Scammers are pretending to be USAA and other companies using official-looking phone numbers or email addresses.
They say there's an account issue or ask for personal details to prevent fraud, but they're just trying to steal your money.
The dangers of imposter scams
“I got a text from USAA about a suspicious charge. I said it wasn't mine, and they said the fraud department would call. Then I got a call that looked like it was from USAA.
The woman asked me to verify my details to secure my account. She said scammers had targeted me and I needed to transfer my balance right away.
She sounded legitimate, so I transferred the money. She hung up, and when I checked my balance, it was zero. I realized it was a scam.”
Beware of growing investment scams.
Scammers take their time to build trust and become your friend before convincing you to invest in things like cryptocurrency, real estate or stocks. Once you're all in, they take off with your money and vanish.
Here's an investment scam story.
“I met someone in a chat group for investors. We became friends, and they started sharing tips on a promising cryptocurrency. They showed me success stories and profits, which made it seem legitimate.
I tried a small investment on their recommended platform and saw some returns. So I put in more money.
But when I tried to pull out my money, the platform stopped working, and my ‘friend’ vanished. It was all a scam.”
Protect yourself from lottery scams.
Scammers say you've won a big prize, but then demand fees, taxes or personal details to claim it. But you never get the “prize.”
A close call with a lottery scam
“I got a call saying I won $2 million in a lottery I never entered. They said I needed to pay some small fees for taxes and legal stuff before claiming the prize.
The caller was convincing, so I called my bank to set up a wire transfer. Luckily, the bank representative asked why I was sending the money.
That made me pause and do more research. Turns out, the same scheme had scammed other people too. I was lucky I stopped before losing any money.”
Watch out for scammers pretending to sell pets.
Scammers use your love for pets to trick you into paying for animals that don't exist. They post cute pictures of puppies or kittens and offer them at great prices.
Then they ask for money upfront for shipping or vaccines. But once you pay, the pet never arrives, and the scammer disappears.
Here's a story of a cute puppy scam.
“I found an adorable Frenchie puppy on social media at a great price. The seller said the puppy was still available but was in another state. It seemed real at first.
I wired money for shipping, but then they asked for more for shipping insurance. I was worried but didn't want to lose the puppy, so I sent more money.
After that, the seller stopped talking to me. I didn't get the puppy that I had my heart set on, and I also lost a lot of money.”
Protect your heart and your wallet.
Scammers create fake profiles and use emotional manipulation to build trust. Then they ask for money once you're deeply involved in the relationship.
Here's how a romance scam can happen.
“I met someone online, and we quickly built a deep emotional connection, even though we never met in person. They were super thoughtful and kind, messaging me daily and sharing their life.
After a few months, they said they were down on their luck and asked for a little money. Then the requests got bigger and happened more often.
My daughter noticed the transfers, which made me investigate. I found out they used stolen photos, and it was a scam all along.”
Outsmart fake tech support scams.
Scammers pretend your computer is infected and offer to “fix” it if you give them access to your computer.
Then they could install harmful software, steal your personal financial information or charge you for unnecessary services.
An encounter with a computer virus scam
“I was browsing online when I got a pop-up that said my computer has a virus. Panicked, I called the number.
A ‘technician’ told me someone hacked my computer, and they needed remote access to fix it. They claimed to find multiple viruses and charged me hundreds of dollars for software.
Later, I realized the pop-up was fake. I had lost money, and they had access to my files and personal data.”
Make sure it's really us.
Scammers are impersonating financial institutions, including USAA. You can report unusual calls, texts, emails and links to abuse@usaa.com.
- Phone calls and texts: We'll never call or text to ask for your password, PIN or one-time code. If someone calls or texts you claiming to be one of our employees and asks for any of these things, it could be fraud.
- Emails from USAA: Our emails have a personalized "USAA Security Zone.” It includes your name and the last four digits of your USAA number. If the information is wrong or missing, it's not from us.
- The USAA Mobile App: Make sure to download our app from an official app store. The developer should be listed as USAA. Our app is free — if it asks you to pay, it's not really us.
Identify and avoid scams FAQ
If you notice any unusual activity, let us know immediately by calling 800-531-USAA (8722). Or you can read how to report fraud online.
You won’t be responsible for any unauthorized charges on your USAA Bank See note 1 credit card See note 2 or debit card See note 3 that you report to us.
Install security patches. Set your device to install app and system updates automatically if possible. These updates often include security fixes.
Use antivirus software. Scan your storage devices and remove any malware. Or you can install an application that specializes in removing spyware.
Get professional help if needed. If possible, save important files and applications on an external storage device before you drop off your computer.
Act quickly by following these steps.
- If you have remote wipe enabled, use it to prevent someone from accessing your data and apps. Your service provider may also be able to help.
- Let USAA and any other financial institutions know your phone is missing.
- Change any account names and passwords that may have been stored on your device.
- Log on to cloud services to disable remote access and alerts for any mobile apps you have linked to your missing phone.
- File a police report, if necessary.