State Auditor Data Breach

The Washington State Auditor’s Office announced a data breach involving one of their third-party provider of hosted file transfer services. The full press release may be read here.

This data breach may have affected those who filed for unemployment during 2020.

Protect your Financial Identity and Credit History

·         Sign up for Great NorthWest FCU Online Banking to monitor your account(s).

·         Set up alerts that notify you of account transactions. Contact us immediately if any transactions appear to be suspicious.

·         If you have credit cards or accounts with another financial institution, monitor those as well, and notify the provider if you detect suspicious activity.

·         Monitor your credit. Each of the three major credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) offers a free annual report once a year. More information is available at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

·         If you do not have upcoming large purchases, such as a home, consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports. This can prevent criminals from obtaining credit in your name. This service is free, and you can do it yourself. More information can be found here.

·         If you have been the victim of a fraud, file a local police report. Then, file a short report with the Federal Trade Commission.

·         Consider setting up an IRS account. If you do so using your social security number, it will prevent criminals from establishing an account using your identity. You may also lock your social security number, which can be done here.

·         Keep your notes. The paper trail may become a useful resource should you face identity theft issues or inaccuracies in your credit report in the future.

As your trusted financial partner, Great NorthWest FCU is here to assist you should you find yourself involved in a data breach. Please reach out if you have any questions.