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Security and Fraud Resources

Your financial safety is a top priority at WESTconsin Credit Union. We are committed to helping you stay informed while providing you with the tools you need to help protect yourself from fraudsters.

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.

Protect Yourself from Fraud

In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever to be aware of potential threats and take proactive steps to protect your personal and financial information. Here’s how!

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 your financial.
  • If you receive a suspicious text, email, or letter, do not click any links and 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 the Mobile App.

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 your financial, 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.

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 Control allows you to temporarily deactivate your WESTconsin debit card, preventing fraudsters from using it without your authorization. Once your lost card is found or you plan to use your debit card, you can reactivate it in just a few clicks!

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.

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 fast. Here’s what you should do!

If you receive a suspicious text message, email, call, or letter impersonating WESTconsin Credit Union

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.

If your WESTconsin card is lost or stolen

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

If you interacted with suspicious communication or believe you accidentally gave away your personal information

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 WESTconsin Online password, as well as temporarily locking your card using Card Control.

It’s important to monitor your accounts closely. Alerts and notifications can be set up through WESTconsin Online or the Mobile App to notify you of potential fraudulent account activity.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may be a victim of financial elder abuse

WESTconsin encourages 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.

If you suspect your identity has been stolen

  1. Place a fraud alert on your file with all three credit bureaus.
  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.
  3. File a police report and keep a copy, as well as a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)*.
  4. Alert WESTconsin 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.

If fraud hits while WESTconsin is closed

Fraudsters often target victims when they know financials are closed. If you suspect you may have fallen victim outside of WESTconsin’s hours, you can call the Service Center at (800) 924-0022 and leave a voicemail or email info@WESTconsincu.org and a team member will contact you the next business day.

While you’re waiting to hear from us, you can monitor your accounts online through WESTconsin Online or the Mobile App, as well as temporarily deactivate your debit card by using Card Control.

Additional Resources

  • Learn how to recognize and report spam text messages from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  • WESTconsin Credit Union helps you stay ahead of fraudulent activity on your debit or credit card with our Fraud Text Alerts program.
  • 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 Notification:

You are now leaving the WESTconsin Credit Union website and going to a website not operated by WESTconsin. WESTconsin is not responsible for the content of this site and the privacy and security policies may differ from those practiced by WESTconsin. The third party website may provide less security than WESTconsin's website. WESTconsin does not represent the third party or you if you enter into a transaction. WESTconsin is not endorsing or guaranteeing the products, information or recommendations provided by linked sites. WESTconsin is not liable for any failure or services advertised on third party sites.

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WELCOME! YOU ARE ABOUT TO ACCESS SERVICES PROVIDED BY CUNA MUTUAL GROUP.

The WESTconsin Investment Advisors program is offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.*, a broker/dealer focused on serving credit union members. CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. is an affiliate of CUNA Mutual Group. For more information about CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., please visit cunabrokerage.com.

Privacy and security policies may differ between WESTconsin Credit Union and CUNA Mutual Group. You should understand that if you conduct business here, you are conducting business directly with CUNA Mutual Group.

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