- December 2025
- Premier America
The holiday season brings more shopping, more online activity, and unfortunately, more opportunities for scammers. Across the financial industry, fraudsters are increasingly targeting members through impersonation scams, account takeover attempts, and deceptive emails, websites, and phone calls.
Your security matters to us. Below are answers to the most common questions we receive this time of year and tips to help you protect your account.
What types of scams increase during the holidays?
During the holiday season, we often see a surge in impersonation scams, where fraudsters pretend to be someone you trust to steal sensitive information. These scams may come through phone calls, emails, text messages, or even fake websites.
Scammers may pose as:
-
Premier America team members
-
Fraud or security departments
-
Retailers, delivery companies, or subscription services
-
Government agencies or utility companies
Their goal is to pressure you into sharing personal or account information.
Can scammers pretend to be your Financial Institution?
Yes. Fraudsters can pose as banks or credit unions, calling members and claiming there is suspicious activity on their account. They may ask you to verify your identity, share login credentials, or provide a one-time security code.
Premier America will never ask for the following during an outbound call:
-
Your online banking username or password
-
One-time passcodes sent to your phone
-
Debit or credit card numbers over the phone
-
Payment via gift cards, Zelle, or other peer-to-peer services
Important clarification about one-time passcodes (OTP):
If you call Premier America directly and speak with our Contact Center, we may send a one-time passcode to verify your identity. This is only done after you initiate the call and connect with our team using our official phone number.
If you receive a call claiming to be from Premier America and are asked for any information or security codes, hang up immediately and contact us directly at 800-772-4000 to confirm the activity.
What is an email attachment scam?
One common holiday scam involves fraudulent email attachments, often PDFs.
These emails may:
-
Claim your account is suspended or on hold
-
Ask you to “verify” or “update” your account
-
Include a PDF with a link to click
The link often leads to a fake website designed to steal your login credentials or payment information.
Do not click links or download attachments unless you have verified the sender.
How can I tell if an email is really from Premier America?
Always verify the sender before clicking anything.
Legitimate Premier America emails will come from:
To check:
-
Hover over the sender’s name to see the full email address
-
Look for misspellings, extra characters, or substituted letters
-
Be cautious of emails that create urgency or fear
When in doubt, do not click. Instead, go directly to our official website.
What should I do if a message feels urgent or threatening?
Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly.
Be cautious of messages that say:
-
“Act now or your account will be locked”
-
“Immediate action required”
-
“This is your final notice”
Legitimate companies give you time and do not pressure you into sharing sensitive information.
Will Premier America ever ask for gift cards or Zelle payments?
No. Never.
Scammers may ask for:
-
Gift cards
-
“Verification cards”
-
Zelle or other peer-to-peer payments
Premier America will never request payment or verification in these forms. This is a major red flag.