At Farm Credit Illinois, we strive to assist our members in protecting their personal and financial information as part of our mission of Helping Farm Families Succeed. Recently, we've been informed about an increase in fraudulent phone calls targeting our members. These scammers often pose as representatives from various businesses and attempt to collect sensitive information such as credit card and bank details. They may present themselves as knowledgeable using information they have obtained from data breaches of other organizations.

We want to ensure you are well-informed and can protect yourself from these scams. Some important tips and guidelines are:

1. Recognize the Red Flags:

• Unsolicited Requests: Be cautious of unexpected calls asking for personal or financial information.
• Urgent Demands: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into providing information quickly.

2. Verify the Caller:

• Hang Up and Call Back: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the company directly using the official phone number provided on their website or your billing statement.
• Ask for Identification: Request the caller’s name, department, and a callback number. Legitimate representatives will provide this information without hesitation.

3. Protect Your Information:

• Never Share Personal Information: Do not disclose your credit card number, bank account details, Social Security number, or any other sensitive information over the phone unless you initiated the call.
• Use Secure Communication Channels: Always use secure, official communication channels to share personal information.

Your vigilance is important to safeguard yourself from these scams. We appreciate your attention and trust. If you have any questions about our privacy practices, please don’t hesitate to contact us.