If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, you’re not alone. According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft has been on the rise in recent years—and even more so during the COVID-19 crisis with more people working from home and turning to the internet for their shopping.
Here are some ways to help minimize falling victim to identity theft and reduce the impact of fraudulent activity along with the heavy costs associated with fighting it:
Wescom will never call you to ask for your information. Fraudsters are using Wescom’s phone number to trick you into providing them with information so they may gain access your account. Know that Wescom will not call you to 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. If you receive a call or text message asking you for personal information, contact Wescom immediately. Report the incident by visiting the Security Center or call us at 1-888-4WESCOM (1-888-493-7266) to let us know.
Be careful on social media. Don't post your date of birth, mother's maiden name, first pet's name, or other personal information on social media channels. Cyberthieves know that these are the details most often used to verify your identity and could allow for electronic access to your accounts.
Keep an eye on your accounts. Pay attention to billing cycles. If bills or statements are late, contact the sender. Collect mail promptly so thieves don’t have a chance to get to account information on mail left in your box. Sign up for online access to your accounts and check them regularly. Wescom offers account alerts and card purchase alerts so we encourage you to sign up for those too. You can also opt-out of receiving paper statements and access your statements within Wescom’s Online Banking or mobile app.
Shred unneeded paperwork containing personal information. Many financial institutions, including credit unions, offer free or low-cost shred days. Take advantage of those to safely discard of these items.
Be vigilant online. Install firewalls and virus detection software on your home computer and create complex passwords that fraudsters can’t easily guess. Change passwords often.
Order your credit report once a year. Review it to make sure it doesn’t include accounts you have not authorized. Check it more frequently if you suspect someone has gained access to your account information. You're entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies. Order online from annualcreditreport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports, or call 1-877-322-8228.
