Post Featured Image

At Dakotaland Federal Credit Union, your security is our priority. That’s why we launched our Shield Your Savings: Fraud Education Series—to help you recognize, avoid, and report scams before they can do any damage to your finances. One of the most common fraud attempts we’re seeing right now is text scams (also called  “smishing”). These scams are designed to look like they’re coming from trusted institutions,  such as your credit union, but they attempt to trick you into sharing personal information. 

How Text Scams Work 

Text scams often share some common red flags: 
• Urgency. They’ll warn you of “suspicious activity” or a transaction you didn’t make. 
• Request for quick action. They may ask you to reply “YES” or “NO,” or click on a link.
• Follow-up phone calls. Once you respond, scammers may call pretending to be a “fraud specialist.”
• Requests for access. They may pressure you to share your screen, download apps, or give out sensitive information.  
Reminder:
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union would NEVER ask you to share your screen or 
provide remote access to your devices. 


Real Example: Targeting Dakotaland Members 

Recently, some members received a text that looked like this: 

Dakotaland FCU Alert: Did you make a Walmart Payment for the amount of $724.83 on 
8/27/25? Reply Yes or No? 
If the member replied, they received: 
Thank you for your response, a Fraud Specialist will be reaching out to you shortly.  

The scammer then called, pretending to be Dakotaland, and asked the member to share their 
screen. This is not us—it’s a scam. 


Protect Yourself from Smishing Scams 

Here are a few ways to stay safe:
• Do not reply to suspicious texts.  
• Never click links sent by text unless you are absolutely sure of the sender. 
• Do not share your screen or download remote-access apps at someone’s request.  
• Contact us directly at 800-440-6573 if you’re ever unsure about a message.  
• Report the scam so we can alert other members.  


If You Respond by Mistake 

If you think you may have clicked, replied, or shared information: 
1. Call us immediately at 800-440-6573.  
2. Change your Online Banking password.  
3. Monitor your accounts closely. 
4. Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.  


Stay Scam-Savvy 

Fraudsters are always trying new tricks, but with awareness and caution, you can stay a step ahead. Dakotaland Federal Credit Union is committed to standing beside you with tools, education and support.  

When in doubt, don’t reply—reach out. #TogetherStrong, we’ll shield your finances. 

Explore More Articles