Fraud & Identity Theft Protection

Your financial safety is our top priority.

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Here's how you can protect yourself from fraud and identity theft.

Know the warning signs
Keep track of all your accounts
Sign up for account alerts
Learn what to do if you fall victim

ALWAYS REMEMBER: Reputable organizations, such as the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Credit Union National Association (CUNA), Cardholder Services and WESTconsin Credit Union, will never contact you by phone, text, or email to ask you for your personal or financial information.

Safeguard Your Personal Information

  • Never share passwords, account numbers, PINs, or personal information with anyone you don’t trust, including suspicious calls or texts claiming to be WESTconsin Credit Union. 
  • If you receive a suspicious text, email, or letter, do not click any links. Ignore the communication until you can verify the validity.
  • Monitor your accounts regularly to look for any suspicious or unauthorized transactions through WESTconsin Online and our Mobile App.

Add an Extra Layer of Security

  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requires more than just a password to gain access, using facial recognition or your fingerprint. This helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Create secure passwords with a minimum of 12 characters, a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, and add special characters and symbols. It’s important to also never reuse passwords across accounts and change them regularly.
  • Monitor accounts closely with customizable alerts and notifications. Low balance, large withdrawals, and other notifications on your account activity can help you quickly detect and respond to potential fraud.
  • Card Management allows you to temporarily deactivate your WESTconsin debit and credit cards, preventing fraudsters from using it without your authorization. Once your lost card is found or you plan to use your card, you can reactivate it in just a few clicks.

Be Aware of Common Scams

It's essential to be familiar with common scams to avoid becoming a victim.
  • Phishing scams use fake emails to lure victims to click on fraudulent links. These links may send you to websites that seem legitimate but are designed to steal your financial and personal information. Smishing is a popular type of phishing but uses deceptive text messages.
  • Fraudsters often pretend to be from legitimate organizations, like WESTconsin Credit Union, to trick you into giving them your sensitive information.
  • Artificial intelligence can be used to impersonate loved ones’ voices to manipulate you into giving account information or sending money.
  • Scammers can use fake Caller ID to appear as a legitimate phone number. Just because a name or business appears on your Caller ID does not make it a legitimate caller.

Monitor Your Credit

Your credit report contains detailed information about your borrowing history and any accounts in your name, making it an essential tool for detecting identity theft and fraudulent activity.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you can request a free credit report each year. The three main credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, have a centralized website AnnualCreditReport.com and phone number 1-877-322-8228 to request your free report.

​​​​​Fraud Alerts

WESTconsin Credit Union helps you stay ahead of fraudulent activity on your debit or credit card with our Fraud Text Alerts program.

If you have a WESTconsin Credit Union debit or credit card and a phone number on record, you will automatically become enrolled in our Fraud Text Alerts program.

If you have a mobile number on file, you'll receive a text notification whenever a potentially fraudulent transaction occurs. If you receive a text message alert, and wish to opt out, reply STOP. If you wish to receive potential fraud alerts via text message and are uncertain if your mobile number is on file, please contact the WESTconsin Service Center at (800) 924-0022 or update your information through Online Banking.

There's no cost to join and no enrollment process. It's one more layer of security to keep you protected from potential fraud.

Debit and credit card transactions are monitored for three general inconsistencies in your purchases – those made outside of a member’s normal purchasing pattern, use of the card at an unusual time or geographic location, or purchasing patterns that are consistent with previously identified fraud threats.

If there is suspected fraud on your account, the type of contact you receive from WESTconsin may vary depending on the type of phone numbers we have on file. If a mobile phone number is documented, you will receive a text message. If not, a voice message will be sent.

We will email, text, and call you depending on what type of contact information you have on file.

  • The text message will arrive with a 5-digit code (number) and contain our financial institution name, dollar amount of the transaction, and merchant name.
  • Texts will be sent within minutes of a suspicious transaction occurring between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Outside of these times, to avoid disturbing you during the night, your card may be blocked, and you will receive contact in the morning.
  • If the transaction is legitimate, you should reply “Yes” to the text message. You will receive a confirmation text message and can continue to use your card with confidence.
  • If you do not authorize the transaction, reply “NO.” You will receive a confirmation text message and you will be asked to contact a fraud specialist to protect your account. If this event occurs, please call WESTconsin Credit Union as soon as possible.
  • Do not reply to any text message with any personal or confidential financial information.

WESTconsin Credit Union will never call, text, or email you requesting your personal information, including card numbers, passwords, or PIN. If you receive a suspicious phone call or email asking for your personal or confidential information, do not respond. Immediately contact WESTconsin at (800) 924-0022.

What To Do When Fraudsters Attack

If you believe your account has been compromised or you’ve fallen victim to fraud, it’s crucial to act quickly. Here's what to do:

Do not respond or click any links, take photos if you can, and contact our Service Center at (800) 924-0022 to verify the validity of the communication.

Contact WESTconsin at (800) 924-0022 or visit your local office to report it as soon as possible. You can help protect your accounts by changing your online banking password, as well as temporarily locking your card using Card Management.

Report it by calling the Service Center at (800) 924-0022. You can also temporarily deactivate your debit card with Card Management through WESTconsin Online and our Mobile App to prevent anyone from using your card.

Fraudsters often target victims when they know financials are closed. If you suspect you may have fallen victim outside of WESTconsin’s hours, email [email protected] and a team member will contact you the next business day.

While you’re waiting to hear from us, you can monitor your accounts through WESTconsin Online and our Mobile App and temporarily deactivate your debit card using Card Management.

Five Steps to Reclaiming Your Identity

Step 1: If you suspect suspicious activity, place a fraud alert on your file with all three credit bureaus.

Step 2: Close all accounts that were affected. It may help to write down all the facts regarding the situation in an I.D. Theft Affidavit and file it with all affected creditors.

Step 3: File a police report and keep a copy.

Step 4: File a complaint with the FTC.*

Step 5: Alert us and all your unaffected creditors. A fraudulent charge may have been reported to them, causing a change in your rates.

*To file a complaint with the FTC, or to learn more about recovering your identity, visit the FTC’s Identity Theft website or call (877) 438-4338.

Customer Identification Program (CIP)

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money-laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. This means we'll ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents.

Sharing Your Personal Information: It’s Your Choice

Companies, marketers, and government agencies may use your information simply to process orders you place. They may also use it to tell you about products, services, or promotions, or they may share your information with others. More organizations are offering people choices about how their personal information is used. For example, many let you "opt-out" of having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes.

The three major credit bureaus - Trans Union, Experian and Equifax - may have different requirements on how to opt-out, and offer a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit offers with just one phone by dialing (888) 5-OPTOUT or (888) 567-8688.

If you receive a phone call in which you are asked for your credit card or account numbers, social security number, or any other personal or financial information, stop! Remember, a company you do business with should already have this information on file and should not need to ask you for it. To protect yourself, simply say, "This isn’t a good time. I will call back." Then hang up the phone and contact the institution from which the caller said he or she was from to see if there's truly an issue with your account. Find the company’s phone number from the phone directory, a current statement, or the company’s official website.

If you receive an email that contains an urgent message about an account, stop! Do not click on the link. Delete the email immediately and contact the institution from which the email appears to have come. Find the company’s phone number from the phone directory, a current statement, or the company’s official website, not the number that may be listed in the suspicious email.

The Federal Trade Commission provides information on protecting yourself, what to do if you fall victim, as well as a sample opt-out letter.

Financial Elder Abuse

We're dedicated to protecting our members and we understand the importance of safeguarding our members of all ages from financial exploitation. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be a victim of financial elder abuse, we encourage you to use the resources within your specific county to help address these troubling situations.

For more information, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.

Additional Resources

  • Learn how to recognize and report spam text messages from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  • Companies, marketers, and government agencies may share your information with others – but you can “opt-out” of having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes. Learn more from the FTC.

WESTconsin Credit Union serves members in Wisconsin and in Minnesota. Find a location near you.

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