You and your personal information are among our primary concerns. Verity is committed to keeping your personal information private no matter how we obtain it–online, in person, on paper or over the phone. Online transactions and communications are protected with industry-standard encryptions. If the communication channel isn't safe for sensitive information, including account numbers and Social Security numbers, we let you know.
Although perfect security is impossible, Verity has strict policies and procedures in place to protect your personal and financial information. To learn what Verity does with your personal information, please view our Privacy Policy.
Reasons Verity may contact you
- You contacted us with a question
- You submitted a loan application and we are calling you back
- Unpaid loan amount
- Negative account
- Share information about upcoming events, account specials, and other news about the credit union
- Credit or debit card fraud monitoring–this automated service is provided by our fraud monitoring partner and may appear as a 1-800 number when calling
When to be suspicious
- If you're unexpectedly contacted and asked for sensitive information, including:
- Social Security numbers
- PINs
- Passwords
- Account numbers
- Email appearing to be from Verity, but without a Verity email domain
- Wrong name or account number information referenced
Please note that when you contact Verity, you will be asked to verify personal information, including last four digits of a Social Security number, date of birth or last four digits of an account number. This is to confirm your identity and ensure we’re not sharing personal information.
If you receive a call, email or text message soliciting sensitive information, please contact Verity immediately.
Current security alerts
In an ongoing effort to keep our members safe, here are some of the current scams and fraud schemes happening in our area. If you believe you’ve encountered any of these situations, please DO NOT provide any personal information, hang up and contact Verity immediately.
Be on the lookout for the following:
- Fraudsters spoofing Verity's phone number: If you receive a call or text by someone claiming to be from Verity Credit Union’s fraud or card department, and you weren’t expecting the call or text, ignore it and call us directly at (800) 444-4589 to confirm if the communication was legitimate. Please note that even if your caller ID says the call is coming from Verity, it could be a scam.
- Requests to convert cash to Bitcoin or gift cards for payment: Some members report being contacted and asked to pay for large purchases by withdrawing cash and converting it to Bitcoin or buying gift cards. These payment methods are not trackable and can't be returned in the event of a scam. If you are paying for a large purchase, do so with an official check or credit card.
- Phishing messages: Don't be fooled by scammers! When using Zelle®, be aware of all the different ways people can fool you. Lately, consumers are being tricked into sending money to scammers. Learn the signs and how to avoid falling for this scam. Click here for more information on how to stay safe.
- Phishing emails: Emails that claim to be from a specific company and invites you to download items or provide secure information. Government agencies are not sending unsolicited emails seeking private information in order to send you money. Phishing emails may also claim to be related to charitable contributions, general financial relief, airline carrier refunds, fake cures/vaccines and fake testing kits. For more information, check out our blog article with the most up-to-date information.
- Asks for Secure Access Codes: Verity will never contact you and ask for any secure information that has been provided to you via text message. If someone asks for your Secure Access Code, Digital Banking login information, or Zelle information, hang up and contact us directly.
- Suspicious Shopping Websites: Be aware of online deals that seem too good to be true. Learn about some tips to help you stay safe while holiday shopping, here.
- Password Theft: Identity theft is at an all time high, and we have provided a blog article with tips to help create the perfect password and a secure way to remember it.
- Unsolicited calls and texts from law enforcement or credit bureaus: In addition, Western Washington residents have reported an increase in the number of unsolicited calls or text messages from scammers claiming to be with law enforcement or credit bureaus. The purpose of these communications is to get personal information, including Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords, PINs, any any other information that could be use to compromise your identity. Do not respond to these text messages, phone calls or emails.
If you suspect you have given out personal information to a scammer, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report and changing your passwords.
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Electronic Information Security
Verity places emphasis on keeping your personal information secure through all electronic channels. Our website, including Digital Banking, is secured via digital certificates and industry-standard encryption. Your information reaches Verity through SSL to help protect the information, but it is also your responsibility to use up-to-date software and security features and to connect to our website through trusted networks.
To keep your information as secure as possible with changing technology, we encourage you to ensure your web browser, anti-virus software and other protection systems are updated regularly.
Verity's website does use the "cookies" feature of your web browser, but a cookie does not personally identify you and is used to customize your website experience. One use of cookies is during member transactions. By using time-sensitive session cookies, your Digital Banking session will time out if left idle for too long, protecting your accounts in the event you walk away from a computer without logging off.
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Tips for Members to Keep Their Identity Safe
Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Dispose of sensitive documents securely. Be aware of anything that lists your address, account numbers, date of birth or Social Security number.
- Keep all passwords secret and change them regularly.
- Create separate logins whenever possible and do not share your password with anyone, including a spouse, partner or child.
- Check your accounts regularly to ensure all the transactions are legitimate.
- If someone calls you claiming to be with a financial institution or utility company, don’t provide your full account number. Some legitimate organizations may ask for you to confirm the last four digits of your Social Security number, but they shouldn’t ask you to provide your full number or account information.
- Be aware of email phishing scams. Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal information, including account numbers, login credentials and Social Security numbers, unless the email was digitally signed. Also, don't click links in emails if you suspect the message might not be authentic; instead type the URL directly into your browser or call the company to verify.
- Always ensure you are using a secure website when submitting sensitive information, including credit card numbers. To ensure you are using a secure web server and website, check for "https" at the beginning of the web address.
If you do suspect identity theft, be sure to report it to Verity and any other financial institutions with whom you have accounts. This includes deposit accounts, loans and credit cards.
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What To Do If Your Identity Has Been Compromised
If you have been the victim of financial fraud or identity theft, you can place a fraud alert on your credit report. To do so, call one of the following credit bureaus:
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Equifax: (800) 525-6285
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Experian: (888) 397-3742
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TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
Placing a fraud alert on your credit report is free and remains active for 90 days. After that period, the alert can be renewed.
Other Resources
How to report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission:
Use the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call (877) 438-4338
How to report a lost, stolen or missing passport:
Visit travel.state.gov/passport
How to report misuse of your Social Security number:
Visit ssa.gov or call (800) 772-1213
How to report income tax fraud:
Visit irs.gov/identity-theft-central or call (800) 908-4490
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Card Security
Report a lost or stolen card
In the event your debit or credit card is lost or stolen, please report it immediately.
Call (206) 440-9000 or (800) 444-4589 and select the menu option for either “credit card related requests” or “debit card related requests.”
If you have misplaced your credit card, you can also “turn off” the card or report it as lost via Verity’s credit card mobile app (available for Apple and Android devices).
Card fraud monitoring
Verity uses a service that monitors our members’ credit and debit cards for fraudulent activity. You may receive an automated message from our partner, PSCU, directing you to call a number to verify charges they suspect are fraudulent. Please note that large purchases or transactions conducted outside of your normal geographic area may prompt a notice, even if it is you making the purchase. If you are ever unsure about whether the call is legitimate, you can respond to the automated message by calling Verity directly and following the prompts to the debit or credit card menus.
Verity's credit card app (available for Apple and Android devices) also allows you to turn your card "on" or "off," helping give you peace of mind if you temporarily misplace it.
You can also sign up for Visa Purchase Alerts for your credit or debit card to help you track your transactions and know when someone uses your card without your permission. Sign up for Visa Purchase Alerts at visa.com/purchasealerts
Disputes and Fraudulent Activity
Even with card monitoring, sometimes fraudulent transactions and double charges make it through. Know that you are protected by Visa’s Zero Liability Policy and won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges.
To dispute a charge completed with your debit or credit card, the easiest way is to let us know through Digital Banking.
- Debit card charges: find the transaction in Digital Banking and click the "dispute" link to the right of the transaction.
- Credit card charges: find the transaction in the card management website or mobile app and click the "dispute" link.
If you don’t have Digital Banking access, you can also fill out and submit the Credit Card and Debit Card Non-Fraudulent Dispute form.
If you suspect fraudulent activity on your account, please contact us during normal business hours at (206) 440-9000 or (800) 444-4589. You will also need to fill out and submit the Fraudulent Card Transaction Dispute form as soon as possible. If you suspect the fraudulent activity was done through an ATM, please fill out and submit the Affidavit of Unauthorized ATM/Debit PIN Transactions form.
How Much am I Liable for?
If you report the card stolen within 48 hours, you will not be liable for any charges. Even if someone uses your credit card before you can report it, there is no liability.
If you wait longer than 48 hours, you may be liable for up to $50.00.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Card?
There is a $6.00 fee to replace a lost or damaged card. We will waive this fee if the card or card number was stolen.
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