Cybercriminals are always evolving, and one of their most effective tactics is taking advantage of current events to trick people into revealing sensitive information. These scams don’t always rely on stolen credit card numbers—they aim to gain access to your accounts through manipulation and false urgency.

Events like tax season, the Olympic Games, or major sporting events often create a perfect storm: high public attention, lots of digital activity, and an opening for scammers to strike.

How Criminals Use Events to Their Advantage

During major events, fraudsters use social engineering to create panic or false opportunities that lead people to hand over personal information—information they can then use to take over your accounts. Common examples include:

• Phishing Emails & Fake Websites – These messages or sites mimic trusted brands or agencies, like the IRS or Olympic committees, and trick people into entering login credentials or other sensitive info.
• Fake Ticket Sales & Giveaways – Scammers promote fraudulent tickets or sweepstakes for big events. These are often used to collect names, email addresses, and even payment details.
• Employment & Loan Scams – Around economic stimulus periods or job surges, cybercriminals pose as employers or lenders, asking victims to provide Social Security numbers, bank info, or account logins.

What You Can Do

• Be cautious of emails or offers tied to current events. If it seems too good to be true—or demands quick action—it probably is.
• Don’t enter personal info on a site unless you’ve directly navigated to it. Avoid clicking through from ads or emails.
• Never share verification codes or passwords. Scammers may impersonate companies and ask for your one-time codes—that’s always a red flag.
• Stay informed. Fraud tactics shift with the headlines. If you know what to look for, you’re much less likely to fall for it.

Staying alert during high-profile events can go a long way in protecting your personal information and preventing account takeovers.

If anything about your account seems off, don’t wait—contact our Member Service team. We’re here for you.