Dealing with Identity Fraud

The sheer amount of data to protect across multiple platforms continues to rise – especially when almost everything we do is digital, from grocery shopping to banking. If you ever become the victim of identity fraud, here are tips on how to deal with it:

• Notify affected creditors or financial institutions. Contact Wescom immediately by submitting a report through our Security Center or calling us at 1-888-4WESCOM (1-888-493-7266).
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit www.identitytheft.gov to let the government know your identity has been compromised. It’s also important to fill out the FTC’s ID theft complaint and affidavit form, which, combined with a police report, will help with disputing fraudulent accounts. The FTC will also provide you with a personalized recovery plan.
• Put a fraud alert on your credit report. After detecting fraud, contact any one of the three credit reporting agencies to request a fraud alert. The alert will show creditors that activity on your compromised account does not reflect your borrowing habits. The alert will last for 90 days. You may also place an extended fraud alert—one that lasts seven years—on your credit report after filing a police report or an ID theft complaint form from the Federal Trade Commission.
• Consider placing a credit freeze on your reports. A credit freeze prevents the credit reporting agencies from releasing your credit report to new creditors. This is usually free if you can prove you’re an ID theft victim.

Note: Wescom will never call you and ask you to provide a security code you may have received via text or email, passwords, your account number, debit card number, credit card number, or online banking credentials (because we already have it).