Knowledge & Resources
Arm Yourself Against Fraud
Identity theft is a serious crime and it is on the rise. Most often identity theft is thought of as an Internet crime but, you can be victimized by ID theft in many other ways. Learn what you can do to take steps to reduce the risk of becoming an identity theft victim.
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is a type of fraud where an individual steals another individual’s personal information and uses it to commit financial or other crimes. Personal information can include your name, date of birth, Social Security number, bank account numbers, and credit card information. Identity thieves use various methods to steal personal information, such as phishing, skimming, pharming, spear phishing, social engineering, address change, and dumpster diving.
Examples of Identity Theft Techniques:
1. Phishing: This is a type of fraud in which an attacker pretends to be a legitimate entity (such as a bank or a government agency) to trick victims into providing sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
2. Skimming: This is the act of stealing credit card information by using a small device (such as a skimmer) that reads the magnetic strip on the back of a credit or debit card.
3. Pharming: This is a technique that involves redirecting a website's traffic to a fake website, which is designed to collect personal information from unsuspecting victims.
4. Spear Phishing: This is a more targeted type of phishing attack in which an attacker creates a personalized message to trick a specific individual into divulging sensitive information.
5. Social Engineering: This type of attack relies on psychological manipulation to trick victims into divulging sensitive information.
6. Address Change: Occurs when an attacker changes the victim's mailing address to redirect sensitive information to themselves.
7. Dumpster Diving: This is the practice of searching through someone's trash to find sensitive information, such as credit card statements or bank account information.
Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft is a serious crime that can result in financial loss and damage to your credit score. At our Bank, we take your security seriously and offer several measures to help protect your identity.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself against identity theft:
1. Monitor your accounts regularly: Keep an eye on your bank statements, credit reports, and credit card statements to detect any unauthorized activity or suspicious transactions.
2. Use strong passwords and change them frequently: Create strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts and change them regularly to reduce the risk of hackers accessing your personal information.
3. Secure your devices: Install antivirus software, firewalls, and other security measures on your computers, smartphones, and other devices to protect them from malware and other cyber threats.
4. Avoid sharing personal information: Be cautious about sharing personal information online, over the phone, or via email. Only provide personal information to trusted sources, and never share your Social Security number or other sensitive information unless necessary.
5. Be wary of phishing scams: Phishing scams are a common tactic used by identity thieves to trick you into revealing personal information. Be cautious of emails or messages that request personal information or ask you to click on suspicious links.
Remember, prevention is the best defense against identity theft. Taking the necessary precautions and staying vigilant can reduce your risk of falling victim to this crime.
Reporting Identity Theft
If you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft, it's important to act quickly. Contact us immediately to report any suspicious activity, and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports. By staying vigilant and taking proactive measures to protect your personal information, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to identity theft.
Contact Us
- Contact our customer support at 888-995-2265 and speak with a representative who can assist you in reporting the identity theft and safeguarding your accounts. Our customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday 6 am - 6 pm PST and Saturday 8 am – 2 pm PST.
- To report Identity Theft by mail, please send the information to the following Address:
Corporate Security
Western Alliance Bank
One East Washington Street, Suite 1400
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Please include your contact information and provide specific details about the incident. Include any relevant account numbers, name(s) associated with the involved account(s), and information about payments that are involved in the fraudulent activity. For faster service, it is best to call our customer support at the number listed above.
Our customer service representatives are available to answer your questions and help you take the necessary steps to protect yourself from further harm. We take identity theft very seriously and are committed to helping our customers protect themselves against this crime.
Additional Resources
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides a webpage dedicated to identity theft at FTC.gov/idtheft. This webpage offers a wealth of information and resources to help you prevent, detect, and recover from identity theft.
On the FTC's webpage, you can find step-by-step instructions on how to report identity theft and get help resolving any issues that arise from it. There are also helpful tips on how to protect yourself from identity theft, such as monitoring your credit report, using strong passwords, and being cautious about sharing personal information online.
We encourage all of our customers to visit FTC.gov/idtheft to learn more about identity theft and how to protect themselves from this type of crime. If you have any questions or concerns about the security of your account, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you keep your personal information safe and secure.
- Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
- Contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Cybersecurity Training
If you are interested in completing a Cybersecurity Training, please use the link below:
Cybersecurity Training - User Guide
*Please download the User Guide to your computer if you have issues viewing the full instructions.