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

    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

     

    Online Banking Security

    Report Unauthorized Online Activity

    If you notice any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity on your online banking account, it is important to report it immediately to protect your account and personal information. Here are the steps you can take to report online banking transactions:

    1.  Log in to your online banking account and review your transaction history to identify unauthorized or suspicious transactions.

    2.  Contact our customer support at 888-995-2265 to speak with a representative who can assist you in reporting the transactions 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.

    3.  Visit one of our branches and speak with a representative who can assist you in person.

    Remember, it's important to act quickly if you notice any unauthorized or suspicious activity on your account. We take online banking security very seriously and are committed to helping our customers protect themselves against fraud and unauthorized access to their accounts. Contact us if you have any concerns or questions about your accounts or transactions.

    Business Email Compromise (BEC)

    Business Email Compromise (BEC)

    What is BEC?

    BEC is a type of cybercrime when an attacker gains access to a company's email system or impersonates a company executive, or a vendor, to initiate fraudulent transactions or obtain sensitive information. This can involve requesting wire transfers or other payments, changing bank account information, or requesting confidential information such as login credentials or tax forms.

    How to protect yourself 

    The Bank has security measures in place to protect our customers; however, there are also steps that you can take to reduce your risk of BEC:

    • Educate yourself and your employees about the common types of BEC scams and how to recognize them.
    • Use strong and unique passwords for all your online accounts, and enable two-factor authentication where available.
    • Be cautious of suspicious and unexpected emails, especially those requesting money transfers or sensitive information. Do not click on links or attachments from unknown senders.
    • Verify requests for money transfers or changes to banking information using a trusted contact method, such as a phone call or in-person conversation.
    • Keep your software and devices up to date with the latest security patches
    • Regularly monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity.

    We are committed to keeping our customers' accounts and information secure. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about BEC or other security issues.

    Reporting BEC

    If you suspect you have been targeted by a BEC scam or have fallen victim to one, contact us immediately. Our team will work with you to investigate the incident and take appropriate steps to protect your accounts and information.

    Contact Us:

    • Contact our customer support at 888-995-2265 and speak with a representative who can assist you in reporting the BEC activity 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.

    Contact FBI

    • Report the incident to the FBI: We highly recommend that you file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. This will help law enforcement track and investigate the criminals responsible for the scam.
    Report Fraud

    What to Report

    If you are impacted by a fraud incident, which includes a Western Alliance Bank subsidiary account, please gather the following information:

    • Date/time of activity
    • Location of activity
    • Who committed the alleged act, crime, or violation
    • What exactly happened
    • Who else is involved with the alleged act, crime, or violation
    • Did you report this alleged act, crime, or violation to anyone else? If yes, who?

    Report Fraud

    At Western Alliance Bank, we take fraud seriously and are committed to preventing it. If you believe you are a victim of bank fraud, please contact us immediately.

    • Contact our customer support at 888-995-2265. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 6 am - 6 pm PST and Saturday 8 am – 2 pm PST.
    • Mail 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. 

    We take all reports of fraud seriously and will investigate them promptly. Thank you for helping us maintain the integrity of our bank and protect our customers.

    Please do not use this page to report lost or stolen business credit cards. Instead, call 866-839-3409 within the US or 727-570-4881 outside the US.

    If you have lost or had your ATM/debit card stolen, call 800-236-2442.

    For compromised bank accounts, contact:

    888-271-0610 for personal accounts  
    888-995-2265 for business accounts