You work hard for your money, but thieves also work hard to take it away. In this digital age, personal banking is sometimes a headache because of scams that threaten to wipe out your checking or savings account. Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union in Honolulu strives to keep their customers safe from fraudulent schemes.  

Here are three common personal banking scams to avoid:

• Emails Saying Your Account Is Overdrawn: Most banks send an electronic message when your checking account is in the red, but it shouldn’t have grammatical errors or typos. If your bank's logo is blurry in the email, it’s a sign of a copy-and-paste schemer trying to get your account number. Any email that asks you to provide your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or other financial information is a scam. Your bank always will advise you to log into your account online to investigate. 

• Vague Phone Calls: "Hello, this is Miranda from customer service.” What's suspicious about this phone call? The caller failed to state not only her last name but where she is calling from. Also notable is her statement that she's with customer service; a customer service agent in a call center usually doesn't contact customers unless they are delinquent. Even then, collections, not customer service, would contact consumers.

• Good News With A Catch: "Super Lotto" sent you an email declaring you the winner of a $45 million jackpot; all they need is your personal banking information to deposit the money into your account. This may sound like good news, but you should never provide information in this kind of situation. Banks frequently advise customers against sharing their account numbers through email, even if the request seems to be from a bank or government agency. 

Guard your information to ensure your financial future. Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union offers secure personal banking, including checking, savings, and individual retirement accounts, at branches throughout the Honolulu area. Visit their website to find a location convenient to you.