A hand holds a glowing digital lock icon surrounded by cybersecurity graphics, symbolizing data protection and secure technology systems.

Security

Ensuring Your Information Stays Private

decorative Identity Theft
One phone with dollar sign icon. Credit Bureaus
Monitor with report and magnifying glass icon. Resources

Our Security Measures

Wildfire is subject to regular governmental and professional audits of our security procedures and policies. These audits make sure that our security measures are solid and operate as intended.

We partner with businesses that follow strict information confidentiality procedures and demonstrate a commitment to security of information via contractual commitments with us. Along with this, there are no cases where these business partners are authorized to charge you without your consent.

We do not sell our member information to any telemarketing or other third party firm for their own use. Nor do we share non-public personal information about non-members who may use some of our services, such as our ATM's. Wildfire also does not share public information about those who are no longer our members, unless it is required by law.

While we may store these records for a period of time, we do not share the information contained on applications or other documents about those who were denied membership or other services or could not have their credit extended, except when required by law.

We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to those employees who have a specific business purpose in utilizing your data. Our employees, members of the Board of Directors and Committee Members shall maintain confidentiality and member privacy. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations and industry practices to safeguard your non-public personal information.

 

Identity Theft Information

1. Document - Document and retain all communication with any parties related to your identity theft claim.

2. Credit Bureaus - Immediately contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting companies -- Experian (formerly TRW), Equifax, and Trans Union. Report the theft of your credit cards or numbers and request a credit report (free to identity theft victims). Ask that your file be flagged with a fraud alert and add a victim’s statement to your report (ex: "My ID has been used to apply for credit fraudulently. Contact me at [your phone number] to verify all applications "). Check to see how long the fraud alert will be posted on your file and how you can extend it if you need to. A freeze can be added to each bureau which exists until you choose to lift the freeze in the event you wish to apply for credit.

  • Review your credit report and dispute any fraud related items with the three credit reporting companies.

3. Creditors - Contact all creditors immediately with whom your name has been used fraudulently, by phone and in writing. You may be asked to fill out fraud affidavits. 

  • Get replacement cards with new account numbers for your own accounts that have been used fraudulently.
  • Ask that old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer's request" (better than "card lost or stolen" because it can be interpreted as blaming you). 
  • Monitor your mail and bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity and report any new fraudulent activity immediately to creditor grantors.

4. Law enforcement - Report the crime to your local police or sheriff's department. You might also need to report it to police departments where the crime occurred.

  • Give them as much documented evidence as possible and make sure the report lists the fraud accounts.
  • Retain a copy of the report.
  • Keep the phone number of your investigator handy and give it to creditors and others who require verification of your case. Credit card companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to verify the crime.
  • It is a violation of federal law (18 USC 1028) and the laws of many states to take someone's identity for fraudulent purposes.
  • Some police departments do not write reports on such crimes, so be persistent!
  • Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.

5. Stolen checks - If you have had checks stolen or bank/credit union accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the correct check verification companies.

  • Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of.
  • Cancel your current checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers.
  • Give the bank or credit union a secret password for your account (not mother's maiden name).
  • If your own checks are rejected at stores where you shop, contact the check verification company that the merchant uses.

6. Debit cards - If your debit card has been stolen or compromised, report it immediately.

  • Get a new card, account number and password and do not use your old password.
  • When you create a password, do not use common numbers like the last four digits of your SSN or your birth date.
  • Be sure to monitor your account statement, you may be liable if fraud is not reported quickly.

7. Fraudulent change of address - Notify the local Postal Inspector (Call the U.S. Post Office to obtain the phone number) if you suspect an identity thief has filed a change of your address with the post office or has used the mail to commit fraud.

  • Find out where the fraudulent credit cards were sent.
  • Notify the local Postmaster for the fraudulent address to forward all mail in your name to your own address.
  • You may also need to talk with the mail carrier as well https://www.uspis.gov/report/.

8. Secret Service jurisdiction - The Secret Service has jurisdiction over financial fraud. However, based on U.S. Attorney guidelines, the Secret Service usually does not investigate individual cases unless the dollar amount is high or you are one of many victims of a fraud ring. To get the Secret Service interested in your case, you may want to ask the fraud department of the credit card companies and banks and/or credit unions, as well as the police investigator, to notify the Secret Service agent they work with. Head to https://home.treasury.gov/services/report-fraud-waste-and-abuse for more info on reporting fraud.

9. Social Security Number (SSN) misuse - Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) to report any fraudulent use of your SSN.

  • As a last resort you might want to try to change your number, but we do not recommend it unless the case is very serious.
  • The SSA will only change the number if you fit their fraud victim criteria.
  • Order a copy of your Personal Earnings and Benefits Statement and check it for accuracy. A thief might use your SSN for employment purposes.
  • Visit www.ssa.gov for additional information.

10. Passports - Whether you have a passport or not, write the passport office to alert them to anyone potentially ordering a passport fraudulently by visiting: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html.

11. Driver's license number misuse - You may need to change your driver's license number if someone is using yours as an ID on bad checks or for other types of fraud.

  • Call your state office of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if another license was issued in your name.
  • Put a fraud alert on your license.
  • Go to your local DMV to request a new license number.
  • Fill out the DMV's complaint form to begin the investigation process and send supporting documents with the completed form to the nearest DMV investigation office.
  • For more information visit www.aamva.org.

12. Victim statements - If the imposter is apprehended by law enforcement and stands trial, write a victim impact letter to the judge handling the case. Also contact the victim-witness assistance program in your area for further information on how to make your voice heard in the legal proceedings.

13. False civil and criminal judgments - Sometimes victims of identity theft are wrongfully accused of crimes committed by the imposter.

  • If a civil judgment is entered in your name for your imposter's actions, contact the court where the judgment was entered and report that you are a victim of identity theft.
  • If you are wrongfully arrested or prosecuted for criminal charges, contact the police department and the court in the jurisdiction of the arrest.
  • Furthermore, contact the state Department of Justice and the FBI and ask how to clear your name.

14. Legal help - You may want to consult an attorney to determine legal action to take against creditors and/or credit bureaus if they are not cooperative in removing fraudulent entries from your credit report or if negligence is a factor. Call the local Bar Association or Legal Aid office to find an attorney who specializes in consumer law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Fair Credit Billing Act.

15. Dealing with emotional stress - Psychological counseling may help you deal with the stress and anxiety commonly experienced by identify theft victims. Just know that you are not alone. Contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for information on how to network with other victims.

16. Making a change - Write to your state and federal legislators demanding stronger privacy protection and prevention efforts by creditors and credit bureaus.

17. Don't give in - Do not pay any bill or portion of a bill that is a result of identity theft.

  • Do not cover any checks that were written and/or cashed fraudulently.
  • Do not file for bankruptcy.
  • Your credit rating should not be permanently affected, and no legal action should be taken against you.
  • If any merchant, financial institution or collection agency suggests otherwise, simply restate your willingness to cooperate, but don't allow yourself to be pressured into paying fraudulent bills. Report such attempts to government regulators immediately.
 

Credit Reporting Bureaus

Equifax:
P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348.
Report fraud: Call 800.525.6285 and write to address above.
Order credit report: 800.685.1111.
www.equifax.com/personal

Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013.
Report fraud: Call EXPERIAN 888.397.3742 and write to address above.
Fax: 800.301.7196.
Order credit report: 888.EXPERIAN.
www.experian.com

Trans Union:
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834.
Report fraud: 800.680.7289 and write to address above.
Order credit report: 800.888.4213.
www.transunion.com

To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit for all three bureaus, call 888.5OPTOUT. You may choose between a two-year opt-out period or permanent opt-out status.

Remember, you are entitled to a free credit report if:

  • You are a victim of identity theft.
  • You have been denied credit.
  • You receive welfare benefits or if you are unemployed.

Social Security Administration
Report fraud: 800.269.0271.
Order Earnings & Benefits Statement: 800.772.1213.
www.ssa.gov

To remove your name from mail and phone lists contact:

Direct Marketing Association

  • Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
  • Telephone Preference Service, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
  • https://www.thedma.org.

To report fraudulent use of your checks

  • CheckRite:800.766.2748
  • Chexsystems:800.428.9623
  • CrossCheck:800.843.0760
  • Equifax:800.437.5120
  • International Check Services:800.526.5380
  • SCAN:800.262.7771
  • TeleCheck:800.710.9898

Other Useful Resources

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC offers help to victims.
File your case with the FTC Consumer Response Center, 1.877.IDTHEFT.
www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC)
3100 - 5th Ave., Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103.
Phone: 619.298.3396.
E-mail: prc@privacyrights.org.
www.privacyrights.org

U.S. Dept. Of Justice
Identity Theft Information
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/identity-theft/identity-theft-and-identity-fraud

Identity Theft Reporting
www.identitytheft.gov

Cyber Security Awareness
https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month

Security Tip - Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks
https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/tips/ST04-014