Gateway Regional Credit Union does not call, send emails or text messages requesting our members to update their account information. You can be assured that any attempt to obtain information via these means is fraudulent. Should you have any questions or need to update any personal information, we recommend that you contact Gateway Regional Credit Union directly at (314) 385-8800.

Every day, financial institutions around the world find their official checks and cashiers checks being counterfeited. Many of these checks are being used to scam victims into wiring or transferring large amounts of money to financial institutions, including foreign banks, as part of the wave of lottery scams.

Here’s how it works: The scammers inform their victim that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes. A large winnings check will be sent to the victim and they are asked to deposit the check and mail back another check for a smaller portion of the total winnings.

To avoid becoming a victim understand that there is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire or send money back. In fact, legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes NEVER ask for money. They do not have to. There are no fees of any kind. If you really win a lottery or sweepstakes the only money you owe is the tax you personally pay directly to your government. This tax is never paid through anyone else or by anyone else.

If you believe you are in possession of a counterfeit check, don’t deposit it – report it! Be advised, if the check or money order you deposit is counterfeit, you are responsible for the entire amount. According to federal law, it is illegal to knowingly deposit/cash a counterfeit check.

To report counterfeit check scams contact the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, a service of the nonprofit national Consumers league, at www.fraud.org or 800-876-7060. The information will be transmitted to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

The best way to avoid the embarrassment of depositing a counterfeit check is to avoid getting caught up in a lottery scam which utilizes counterfeit checks and money orders to steal money from victims.