Identity Theft Resources and Victim Assistance
Identity theft is a serious crime. Those whose identities have been stolen can spend months to years and thousands of dollars cleaning up the mess made of their credit. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, and even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
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 or email to ask you for your personal or financial information.
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 your credit union 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. What does this mean for you? We will 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’s website has information on protecting yourself, what to do if you fall victim, as well as a sample opt-out letter.
Financial Elder Abuse
WESTconsin Credit Union is 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 utilizing the resources within your specific county to help address these troubling situations.
For more information, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.