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Fraud & Security Center

West Pointe Bank will never contact you requesting your account number, username, password, social security number, PIN or authentication codes.
  • Change your password frequently.
  • Create strong passwords by mixing characters.
  • Avoid personal information such as birthdays and names of family members & pets.  
  • Never use your social security number.
  • Use unique passwords for each website. 
  • Do not share your passwords.
  • Never save your username and password on your computer.  If a hacker gains access to your computer, they have access to your entire bank relationship.
  • Caller ID can be spoofed.  If questioning the authenticity of a call, hang up and call the bank directly.
  • Email and text message scams often have misspelled words or odd grammar.
  • Keep your software, apps, and internet browsers updated.
  • Use public computers and WI-FI with caution.
Scare Tactics & Threats
Fraudsters try to scare you and create a sense of urgency, causing you to give out sensitive information.  They can be aggressive and often encourage you to lie if a bank employee asks about a questionable withdrawal. 
 
Overpayment Claims

If a sender claims to have overpaid you and requests a partial or full refund, assume it is a scam.  A legitimate transaction would get handled through the bank and never get repaid with gift cards, payment app transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Sending Money to Yourself
If someone claiming to be your bank wants you to send money to yourself, it is a scam.
 
Suspicious Links
If you receive a payment app-related message that contains a link, it's a scam.  Scammers send links to fake login pages to obtain login information.
 
Request for Personal Information
If you receive a phone call or text message requesting account numbers, PINS, passwords, social security numbers or other sensitive information, assume it is a scam.
Scammers are constantly creating new ways to up their game, but here are a few  to familiarize yourself with.
 
"Free" Trials
You may think you are getting something to try for free, however, the fine print enrolls you in a subscription and will process multiple charges to your account.
 
Grandparent Scams
A caller will pretend to be a grandchild or calling on behalf of their grandchild stating there is an emergency and to send money for their expenses.
 
Charity Scams
Scammers pose as real charities and ask for donations for disaster relief, law enforcement, veterans, even cancer patients.  Always make sure you are reaching out to your local organizations and donating to the cause, not the scammer.
 
Prize and Lottery Scams
Scammers claim you've won a prize but say you have to pay taxes or shipping charges in order to receive it.  
 
Debt Relief Scams
Someone promising to lower your interest rates, fix your credit or consolidate student loan debt? They generally require an upfront fee, then provide no service and ruin your credit further.

If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft, take action immediately.
  • Contact the fraud department where you believe the fraud occurred.
  • Place fraud alerts and/or a security freeze with credit reporting agencies.
  • Contact the Federal Trade Commission and submit an ID Theft Affidavit.
  • File a police report with local law enforcement.
    • Provide a copy of the ID Theft Affidavit and any other proof of theft.
  • Review credit reports and dispute any errors.
  • Change passwords or PINs for your accounts.
Don't recognize a charge on your account?
  • Contact the merchant first.  The description of the charge might not adequately describe the company processing the charge.
  • If no progress is made, report the disputed charge to West Pointe Bank.  Be prepared to provide as much information as possible regarding the charge.  Documentation of any dates, times and email communications with the company helps expedite the process.  
Keep up to date with the latest scams and how to avoid them.