How to detect potential scams

Want to make sure your Vibrant accounts stay safe? We've put together some helpful tips for helping you recognize fraud attempts before it's too late.

Unsolicited

If a person, business, or organization you don't have an existing relationship with asks you for money or personal information, be on guard. Make sure they are who they say they are.

Unexpected

If you’re contacted out of the blue by an organization you DO have a relationship with, don’t respond directly. Instead, contact the organization via their publicly available phone number or email address so you can verify it's a legit request.

Urgent

Scammers know the more time you have to think, the more questions you’ll ask. Even in a genuine emergency, no one will ask you to disclose personal or financial information before you do anything else.

Watch out for spoof calls and text messages

Your Caller ID may tell you Vibrant is calling, but it could be a scammer. If a caller asks you to provide any of the information below, this could be an attempt to access your personal account. Say nothing and hang up!

Anything more than the last 4 digits of your debit or credit card
Any security or verification code you receive via text or email
Your account or routing number
Your complete Social Security Number
Your account password
Your PIN

Frequently asked questions

Does Vibrant ever verify my identity by texting or emailing me a code?

If you’ve set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account—and we highly recommend it—you will receive a code via text or email when you try to log in to verify it’s really you. While you'll need to enter that code on your browser or mobile app to complete your login, Vibrant will never ask you to tell us what the code is.

Can a scammer access my account even if I don’t tell them my password?

Unfortunately, yes. Scammers may find your login information through a data breach, on the dark web, or through other phishing tactics.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers additional protection, but it's not foolproof. A common scam is to try bypass 2FA by pretending to be a legitimate caller who wants to verify your identity by sending you a security code, which they'll ask you to read back to them. If you tell them the code, unfortunately, they can use it to log in from their device.

How do I set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on my account?

Log in to your account and go to Settings, then choose the Security tab. Toggle the on/off switch next to Two-Factor Authentication to ON to require a second security code via email, text, or voice call (you'll have the option to choose the method that works best for you any time you log in).

What if a caller tells me I owe money and they need immediate payment?

Legitimate organizations, including the IRS, your local tax assessor, or your financial institution, will never ask you to provide payment via a gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer. If you get a a call demanding immediate payment and they want you to use one of these payment methods, it's a scam.

In addition, a legitimate caller will never threaten to alert law enforcement, immigration officials, or other authorities to collect a debt.

What should I do if I think I may have been scammed?

Contact us immediately to report the incident. We’ll place a fraud alert on your account and help you reset your login information. (And no, we won't ask you to tell us your new password.)