The $8.3 billion Security Service Federal Credit Union in SanAntonio is living up to its name by adding a new mobile layer ofprotection for member card accounts.

Security Service FCU said it launched real-time credit and debitcard text fraud alerts as a free service (except where phonecharges apply) to help prevent fraudulent transactions fromoccurring on members' credit or debit cards. Members must sign uponline to trigger credit card fraud alerts, but debit cards receive automaticenrollment in the program.

“With text fraud alerts, the minute we detect any suspiciousdebit or credit card activity on the account, we send a textmessage asking for verification of the transaction,” Howard Baker,executive vice president and chief risk officer for the creditunion, said. “Members can rest assured that card fraud monitoringand account security are top priorities at SecurityService.”

Real time fraud alerts are available for the 700,000 SecurityService FCU members in Texas, Colorado and Utah.

According to a 2014 Federal Trade Commission survey, 10% ofAmericans have been credit card fraud victims and 7% have sufferedlosses via a debit or ATM card scheme. The median amount reportedon credit card fraud is $399.

The credit union also offers three tips to help combat fraud:Keep contact information current, notify your financial institutionabout personal travel and never provide sensitive accountinformation to anyone—including your financial institution—viatext, social media or email.

Another Texas credit union, the $2.4 billion Texas Dow EmployeesCredit Union in Lake Jackson, is taking a proactiveapproach when it comes to its members' security. It providesalerts on its website and online banking site to keep membersinformed of potential threats such as the recent FREAKexploit. The alerts grew out of policy resulting from memberconcern over last year's data much-publicized data breaches.